MTDC to develop tourism infrastructure in Forests and Naxalite areas

Plans to take elaborate security measures to make it safe for tourists to visit these sensitive areas

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The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) to develop tourism and tourism-related infrastructure in areas affected by Naxalism in the state.

Elaborate security measures will be made to make it safe for tourists to visit these sensitive areas, officials said. Among the areas that will be developed include the Bhandara-Gondia-Nagpur belt, and spots such as the Navegaon Bandh, Pratapgad, Nagzira, Chandpur and Pauni among others. Financial assistance of around Rs 45 crore from the Union government has been proposed for this project. Officials said the public works and irrigation departments will also be roped in, the latter to develop water sports activities in parts with water bodies as per a TOI report.

An MTDC official told TOI, "Four to five spots close to Naxalite areas figure in this belt, including Navegaon Bandh, Pratapgad (which is 100 km circle of a Naxalite area), Chandpur and Pauni, which is about 60-70 km from a Naxalite-affected region. The project will involve building tourism activities and infrastructure around such areas as well as around forest areas like Nagzira," the official said.

The bulk of the work is by way of civil construction/infrastructure and includes construction of conference halls and tourist arrival centres, kiosks, budget accommodations, parking, pathways, approach road, musical fountains, compound wall, among other things. "These works would be completed in three years after the project is sanctioned," an official said.

The official said that the creation of tourist infrastructure at Bhandara-Gondia-Nagpur will benefit not only the state but also the entire southern region. "This region also has some pilgrimage centres and this circuit is mostly forested. It can thus be developed as a mega circuit as it already attracts a large number of tourists, including many from Europe, Germany, France and UK. Tourists often do not find many facilities in these parts, which lack in hygiene and safety. The development of this circuit will thus ensure that such amenities as well as useful tourist infrastructure are in place in these areas," the official said.

On tourist safety in the region, the official said that amenities and measures related to tourist safety will be made once all the facilities and infrastructure in the region are in place. Then, tenders will be floated to put in place appropriate safety measures for tourists.

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