Giving an impetus to the ailing tourism industry in Maharashtra, Maharashtra Government has earmarked a tourism budget of Rs. 335.75 crores for the fiscal 2015-16. Special focus has been given to developing segments such as wildlife tourism, beach tourism, eco-tourism and conservation of forts spread across the state. A comprehensive master plan is being prepared and Rs. 50 crores has been earmarked for the conservation and preservation of 10 forts in the State and for the development of people centric tourism. These forts will be provided with basic amenities along with Tourist Information Centres. While the Sound and Light Show will also be organised in select forts, Raigad Fort will host the ‘Raigad Mahotsav’ this year.
In addition, the government aims to cash in on the wildlife tourism opportunities available in the state. The government plans to copy the module of the Masai-Mara National Reserve in Kenya to develop Sanjay Gandhi national park, Tadoba-Aandhari Tiger reserve and Gorewada zoological park. Bio-digester toilet and drinking water facilities will be provided to the tourists on Jungle safaris. Also, forest tourism centres will be developed at these destinations. An outlay of Rs. 91 crores is proposed in 2015-16, and an additional outlay of Rs. 100 crores is earmarked from the outlay undistributed under the Planning Department. Maintaining cleanliness in the area and forestation will be done through the Joint Forest Management Committee.
To promote the Konkan region and vast coastline of 720 kms, an outlay of Rs. 42 crores is proposed for beach tourism in this year’s budget. Impetus has been given to eco-tourism aspects and the government has decided to establish Nisarg Paryatan Vikas Mandal (Maharashtra State Eco-Tourism Development Board). An outlay of Rs. 50 lakhs is proposed for meeting initial expenditure.
A botanical garden will be developed at far-off places such as Chandarpur on similar lines as that of Ballarpur in Bengaluru. For Sindhudurg district, the district tourism plan of Sindhudurg is proposed to be submitted to World Bank/ Asian Development Bank for financial assistance. The proposed project of Sea-world in Sindhudurg district will be provided with required funds.
For the development of tourism amenities at Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Aurangabad, Buldhana, Kolhapur etc., an outlay of Rs. 2.25 crores is proposed in 2015-16. An outlay of Rs. 50 crores is also earmarked from the outlay undistributed under the Planning Department.
Meanwhile, an outlay of Rs. 91 crores is proposed in the year 2015-16 for development, inspection and maintenance of airstrips under Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation at Ozar, Kolhapur, Akola, Shirdi, Karad, Amravati, Solapur, Chandrapur etc.
Presenting the budget in the assembly Sudhir Mugantiwar, State Finance Minister, Government of Maharashtra said, “Maharashtra is blessed with fabulous natural beauty. Therefore, there is a lot more scope for tourism in Maharashtra. A special programme of integrated planning and implementation will be executed to reach out to discerning travellers. Keeping in view the importance of tourism in employment generation and improving the livelihood of the local population, it is the endeavour of the government to promote and develop it.”
