Newstrack

MTDC brings out Mahabaleshwar project from deep freeze

Preeti Kannan - Chennai

The Maharashtra state tourism board is reworking its project to replicate the existing hill station of Mahabaleshwar in the Satara district, about 100 kms from Pune, with participation from star and budget hotels. The New Mahabaleshwar project, which was initially mooted a few years ago, will see a total investment of around Rs 1,000 crore. The project will extend from the base of the existing Mahabaleshwar to the Koyna dam.

Speaking to Express Hospitality, Bhushan Gagrani, director, MTDC, says, "This is going to be a joint venture between the government and the private players. We have completed the pre-feasibility report and have floated tenders to invite a consultant to conduct the feasibility report. There is about 6000 hectares of land or more between Mahabaleshwar and the dam, and since we are planning to develop a similar hill station, we will look at high-end and budget hotels, alongside adventure and water sports, in that area."

The feasibility study will be completed by October this year, after which the government will identify private players for the project. The MTDC chief also indicated that since this is a large scale project, it would take about ten years to be completed. "It is still too early to say which hotel groups would be interested in setting up shop here," he concludes.