The Maharashtra government inked a pact with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to develop and create facilities for tourists in and around centrally protected monuments and sites in the state.
This is the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ASI has signed with any tourism board in the country, an official release said.
“This is great step to develop infrastructure for the use of tourists in and around Centrally protected monuments and sites under jurisdiction of ASI in Maharashtra,” state Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal said.
“The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will explore the possibility of public-private partnership (PPP) mode for implementation of projects or funding,” said the Minister.
Under this MoU, a representative of Maharashtra government will be responsible for preparing proposals or project reports for providing tourists amenities in and around Centrally protected monuments in the state with suggestions incorporated from the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI under whose jurisdiction, the site falls.
“Maharashtra has many historic monuments and tourists from across the world look forward to experience such places. By associating with ASI, we will provide facilities with good infrastructure to boost tourism in the state,” Maharashtra Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Valsa Nair Singh said.
“Through this MoU, we will be allowed to arrange festivals like Fort Festival or Diwali on Forts or on similar theme in and around Centrally protected monuments. Some of the important festivals are proposed on Raigad Fort, Sindhudurg Fort, Shivneri Fort, Rajgad Fort and Pratapgad Fort,” Nair added.
