Centre okays project to beautify forts: Fadnavis
Has given in-principle nod for the Rs 600 cr project report
The Central Government has given its in-principle nod for a detailed project report (DPR) worth Rs 600 crore, proposed by the Maharashtra Government on restoration and beautification of the historical fort of Raigad, which was capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s empire.
Informing this to the media persons during a press interaction in New Delhi on Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told that the State Government would soon take up the work for restoration and beautification of various forts in the state including the historical fort of Raigad.
Fadnavis was speaking after a meeting held at Transport Bhavan in New Delhi, headed by Union Minister for State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma, to find out solutions to various problems being faced in restoring and beautifying various famous forts and caves in the State.
The meeting was also attended by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Secretary of Tourism Ministry N K Sinha, Secretary of the Cultural Ministry Vinod Joshi, Director General of the Department of Archaeological Survey Dr Rakesh Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office Praveen Pardeshi, Principal Secretary of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Work Valsa Nair and Regional Commissioner of Konkan Region Prabhakar Deshmukh.
Fadnavis said that public sentiments are closely attached with the historical forts from the era of Shivaji Maharaj and are an important heritage of glorious history of Shivaji era. They offer an effective medium through tourism, said Fadnavis, underlining the need for their restoration and beautification. He justified the initiative taken by the Government in this regard.
Informing about the state government submitting a DPR worth Rs 600 crore towards a project regarding restoration and beautification of Raigad fort, the CM told about the Centre giving in-principle approval to this project during Tuesday’s meeting.