Matheran, Maharashtra’s favourite hill station, will soon greet tourists once again as the indefinite strike that ruined tourism for two days has finally come to an end. The protest, which was called to try and tackle scams on tourists and cut down tourist traffic, came to an end with the intervention of local MLA Mahendra Thorve. With operations back on track, tourists and business owners can look forward to normality from today.
Matheran Strike Ends After Government Intervention
The Matheran strike came to an end after negotiations between protesters and local officials, such as MLA Mahendra Thorve and other authorities. The main issue of the protesters was the excessive charges by touts and horse operators, which had a negative effect on tourist experiences and discouraged tourism.
As per the Times of India, Manoj Khedkar, former president of Matheran Hill Station Municipal Council, said the administration’s sympathetic response to their demands resulted in the withdrawal of the protest. Protesters also raised concerns about poor infrastructure, lack of support from the government, and more stringent regulations needed to safeguard visitors as well as locals.
Also Read: Matheran Is Shut, Businesses On Strike. Here’s What You Need To Know Before Making Any Plans!
Impact On Tourists And Businesses
Matheran was brought to a halt during the two-day strike. Transport in the form of horse rides and hand-pulled rickshaws was non-existent, keeping many tourists from reaching their destination. A few hotels, eateries, and shops were not open, translating into business losses for the operators.
Tourism is the economic mainstay of Matheran, and the disruptions have worried everyone about long-term implications if scams and other problems are not fixed. With the Matheran strike now over, local businesses are keen to make up for their losses.
What’s Next For Matheran?
With tourism activities reopened the authorities have promised to take measures to avoid such protests in the future. The intervention by local leaders has created hope that the complaints of service providers and business owners will be handled satisfactorily.
For visitors, Matheran is now open again, with transport, accommodation, and food services restored to normal. Yet, the efficiency of the promises of the government will be instrumental in making sure that the problems causing the protest do not occur again.
Also Read: Mumbai Coastal Road To Be More Environment-Friendly; BMC To Densify Mangrove Nursery
As Matheran welcomes visitors back, they can relish its beauty once again, but will the changes promised make a lasting impression? Only time will tell.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (For Representation)
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