Pune: MTDC to Privatize Resorts and Vacant Spaces; Citizens to Pay Extra for Booking Resorts

Pune, 25th September 2024: The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has decided to privatize 28 resorts and three vacant lots in tourist destinations, including Sinhagad, Panshet, Karla, Bhimashankar, and other profitable resorts in the district. As a result, tourists may have to pay extra to stay at these locations.

MTDC’s resorts are popular among tourists due to their strategic locations in key tourist areas and affordability. Despite this, the State Government has opted for privatization.

The Mahavikas Aghadi government, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray, initially decided to develop the resorts and vacant lands owned by the administration through privatization. However, following a change in power, the Mahayuti government under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde put the decision on hold. Now, the government has revived the initiative and issued e-tenders for privatization, with a deadline of 27th September.

The resorts slated for privatization include:

– Sinhagad (Pune)
– Panshet (Pune)
– Karla (Pune)
– Bhimashankar (Pune)
– Velaneshwar (Ratnagiri)
– Ganpatipule (Ratnagiri)
– Shilpi-Nivati Fort (Ratnagiri)
– Tarkarli (Sindhudurg)
– Kunkeshwar (Sindhudurg)
– Koyananagar (Satara)
– Olvan Dajipur (Kolhapur)
– Jyotiba Yatri Niwas (Kolhapur)
– Malshej Ghat (Thane)
– Grape Park (Nashik)
– Chandpur (Bhandara)
– Lonar (Buldhana)
– Shegaon (Buldhana)
– Mahur (Nanded)