Shivaji Maharaj’s Rajgad Fort In Pune To Get Ropeway Making The Spot More Accessible To Tourists

by Tania Tarafdar
Shivaji Maharaj’s Rajgad Fort In Pune To Get Ropeway Making The Spot More Accessible To Tourists

As Maharashtra unlocks and opens its doors for tourism, the Department of Tourism is coming up with new offerings for the visitors. It has signed two ‘Memorandum of Understandings’ (MoUs) with the Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) to provide ropeway at Shri Ekvira Devi Temple and Rajgad Fort, in Pune. The popular tourist spots will now be easily accessible to people with the ropeway projects.

The Attractions Will Be Easily Accessible For The Tourists

The 200 crores worth ropeway project will be the pilot project by the Tourism government, based on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model. Explaining the reason behind identifying the two particular destinations for the ropeway projects, Dr. Dhananjay Sawalkar, Director, Directorate of Tourism shared, “Being a popular pilgrimage place and having nearby tourist attractions like Karla caves, Ekvira Devi temple witnesses 7 to 8 lakh tourists, annually. Similarly, Rajgad fort has historical significance as it was the capital of Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindavi Swarajya for nearly 25 years and is a popular trekking destination. Therefore, with the development of ropeway, the religious place will be easily accessible for the tourists and will result in promoting tourism at these locations.”

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The Ropeway Project Will Encourage Tourism In The State: Aaditya Thackeray

Valsa Nair Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism said, “We have entered the global market by conducted International Agri-tourism conference, which was attended by the representatives of around 20 to 25 countries. It gives me immense pleasure to know that DoT has selected IPRCL and MCDC for these projects as they are already acing in their respective fields and will deliver what is expected.”

Aaditya Thackeray, Minister of Tourism, Maharashtra said, “These two MoUs are going to encourage tourism in the state thereby boosting responsible and sustainable tourism practices across the State. We look forward to starting these projects in the next year.”

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Anil Kumar Gupta, Director, IPRCL added, “A ropeway project requires very little land acquisition, is cost-effective and eco-friendly. It will be beneficial for the tourism sector in Maharashtra. We are happy to have got this opportunity.”

First Published: June 15, 2021 12:46 PM