The Maharashtra government on Monday, 18 May approved development plans worth ₹993.72 crore for six pilgrimage sites, forts, and historical locations across the state. The funds, cleared by an apex committee chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, will be directed toward preservation, conservation, and infrastructure development at some of Maharashtra's most significant religious and heritage destinations.

Key Projects and Fund Allocation

The approved outlay covers six distinct projects. Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar Adarsh Gaon Development receives ₹172 crore; conservation of Sant Tukaram Maharaj's birthplace at Dehu gets ₹41 crore; Ajinkyatara Fort in Satara district is allocated ₹134.80 crore; the Sangam Mahuli (Satara) Samadhi Site Conservation Project receives ₹133 crore; the Shri Kshetra Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Development Plan at Ellora is allocated ₹210 crore; and the Shri Kshetra Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga Temple premises development gets ₹301.54 crore.

What the Development Plans Include

At Bhimashankar, a modern bus station, parking facilities, bypass roads, and road-widening works — from 2.7 metres to 7 metres — are planned, with completion targeted by May 2027. The project also encompasses pedestrian pathways, a 257-KLD-capacity sewage treatment plant, a new police station, a cable car (ropeway) facility, and tourism infrastructure at Rajapur.

At Dehu, the Sant Tukaram birthplace project covers road beautification, sanitation, drinking water supply, devotee accommodation, an information centre, and conservation of the Bhandara Dongar green zone. The Ajinkyatara Fort plan includes a spectator gallery, revival of the Raj Sadar (royal court), conservation of bastions, an advanced suspension bridge, and rest houses.

The Sangam Mahuli project will restore the samadhi sites of Maharani Tarabai, Maharani Yesubai, and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, alongside conservation of the historic Sangameshwar Temple, ghats, a hanging bridge, and a viewing gallery.

Grishneshwar and Parli Vaijnath: Phased Expansion

The revised plan for Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple at Ellora in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district includes an additional allocation of ₹53.82 crore. Chief Minister Fadnavis directed officials to expedite devotee accommodation (Bhakta Niwas), darshan queue complexes, a shopping complex, function hall, ghats, and a 1.6-km external bypass road.

The Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga project, worth ₹301.54 crore, is structured across three phases. Phase 1 covers the main temple premises — grand entrance gates, a digital queue management system, waiting halls, a community kitchen (Annakhetra), and a yoga and meditation centre. Phase 2 focuses on sacred water bodies including scientific revival of Harihar and Markandeya Teerthas, ghats, cycling tracks, divyang-friendly facilities, and CCTV surveillance. Phase 3 involves Meru Parvat development — a grand statue of Lord Shiva, a Shiv Purana and Vedic museum, an amphitheatre, laser light-and-sound shows, and meditation spaces.

Context and Significance

The approval comes even as the state government has maintained measures aimed at financial prudence in the context of the ongoing West Asia situation. The scale of the outlay — nearly ₹1,000 crore in a single clearance — signals the Fadnavis administration's prioritisation of religious tourism and heritage conservation as a development pillar. Maharashtra is home to five of India's twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, drawing millions of pilgrims annually. Upgrading infrastructure at these sites directly affects devotee experience, local livelihoods, and the state's tourism revenue. The projects, once complete, are expected to position several of these destinations as world-class pilgrimage and heritage tourism hubs.