Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar reviewed the ongoing development works under the Shri Kshetra Ashtavinayak Ganpati Temple Area Development Plan on Thursday, emphasising timely and high-quality execution. The review meeting was held at his committee office in Mantralaya.
Speaking at the meeting, Pawar stated that the development plan not only aims to provide better facilities to devotees but also holds the potential to significantly boost tourism and strengthen Maharashtra’s economy.
“Works around the Ashtavinayak temples, which are revered by lakhs of devotees from across Maharashtra and the country, must be completed on schedule and with high standards,” said Pawar. He stressed that all construction should be done without disturbing the original temple structures and must incorporate a heritage touch.
The Deputy CM specifically mentioned the temples at Morgaon (Mayureshwar), Theur (Chintamani), Ozhar (Vighneshwar), Ranjangaon (Mahaganpati), Mahad (Varadvinayak), Siddhatek (Siddhivinayak), and Pali (Ballaleshwar), where development works are currently underway.
Pawar directed that local residents living in the temple precincts be suitably rehabilitated with alternative housing, and that encroachments or incongruent structures near temples be removed. He also instructed that ample open space be made available in the vicinity and that access routes be designed to allow easy entry for emergency services like ambulances and fire trucks.
The Deputy CM underlined Maharashtra’s immense potential in tourism and called for decisive steps to develop a tourism-driven economy. “We must implement modern amenities, top-notch services, and tourism-centric initiatives to attract foreign tourists, out-of-state devotees, and the younger generation, following the model of states like Kerala and Odisha,” Pawar said.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) O. P. Gupta, Principal Secretary (Planning) Saurabh Vijay, Principal Secretary (Rural Development) Eknath Dawale, Deputy CM’s Secretary Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, Director of Archaeology and Museums Tejas Garge, Assistant Director (Pune) Vilas Wahane, MTDC Managing Director Nilesh Gatne, and other senior officials. Joining via video conferencing were Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Chandrakant Pulkundwar, District Collectors of Pune, Raigad, and Ahilyanagar, and CEOs of respective Zilla Parishads.
Nepal Gen Z protest: Govt prioritising safe return of Maharashtra tourists stranded in violence-hit country, says Ajit Pawar
The Maharashtra government is making all-out efforts to ensure the safe return of tourists from the state stranded in the violence-ravaged Nepal, said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday.
The state government is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi to provide necessary assistance to the stranded travellers and ensure their safe return, Ajit Pawar said in a statement.
