Mumbai, September 24: The state-level Shikhar Samiti meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, approved plans worth Rs. 305.63 crore for the development of various tirthkshetra (pilgrimage) sites across the state. This includes Rs.129.49 crore for the construction of a darshan mandap and darshan ranga ( darshan queue) facilities at Shri Kshetra Pandharpur
Substantial funds will be made available for the development of tirthasthal (pilgrimage sites) in the state, as promised in the budget and through additional allocations over time. Accordingly, immediate planning should be undertaken for the development of these tirthasthal (pilgrimage sites) and tourist destinations. During the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde emphasized that care must be taken to ensure that all projects are of high quality and executed to the highest standards.
The meeting, held at Sahyadri Guest House, was attended by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil, MLA Shivendrasinh Raje Bhosale, MLA Santosh Awatade, MLA Saroj Ahire, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Vikas Kharage, Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department O.P. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning Department Rajagopal Deora, Principal Secretary to the CM Brijesh Singh, Rural Development Department Secretary Eknath Dawale, Tourism Department Secretary Jayshree Bhoj, Solapur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, among others. District Collectors of Jalgaon, Nashik, and Satara districts participated via video conferencing.
A darshan mandap and darshan ranga (queue) facility will be established for devotees and tourists at the Shri Kshetra Pandharpur Vitthal-Rukmini Temple area, with a plan worth Rs. 129.49 crore approved for this project.
Additionally, a theme park dedicated to the life of Swatantrya Veer (Freedom Fighter) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar will be constructed in Bhagur (Nashik district), with a proposal of Rs.40 crore and an initial provision of Rs.15 crore for the first phase being approved. A development plan worth Rs.25 crore was also sanctioned for the country's unique Mangalgraha Devasthan (Temple) in Amalner (Jalgaon district). Moreover, an additional fund of Rs.47 crore was approved for the water sports tourism facility at Koyna Reservoir-Mauje Munawale (Taluka Jawali, Satara district). All these proposals were submitted by the Tourism Department, which presented a detailed overview of the projects and their associated facilities.
A development plan worth Rs.18 crore for Saint Gadge Baba's Karmabhoomi Rinmochan in Daryapur (Amravati district), submitted by the Rural Development Department, was approved. Additionally, works totaling Rs.2.67 crore were sanctioned for the development plan of Shri Kshetra Gahininath Gad (Beed district). The meeting also approved a provision of Rs.15 crore for the construction of a memorial at Kendambe (Taluka - Jawali) in Satara district in honour of braveheart Tukaram Omble, who laid his life in the line of duty during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Additionally, the Urban Development Department submitted plans for Nagpur city. Among these, a development plan worth Rs.24.73 crore for Laxminarayan Shiv Mandir-Nandanavan, Rs.13.35 crore for Kutte Waale Baba Mandir Asharam- Shantinagar, and Rs.14.39 crore for the Murlidhar Mandir Pardi development plan were approved.
A large darshan mandap for devotees will be constructed in Pandharpur, featuring a darshan ranga (queue) facility with a skywalk
Devotees consistently flock to see Shri Vitthal-Rukmini in Pandharpur, with lakhs of warkaris and devotees visiting for the Ashadhi and Kartik Wari. To accommodate them, a state-of-the-art darshan mandap will be constructed. The 16,000-square-meter mandap will have the capacity to hold 6,000 devotees across its first and second floors, with entry managed through a time-based token system. A one-kilometer skywalk-style darshan ranga (queues) will also be established, ensuring safe, comfortable, and convenient darshan facilities for the devotees. With the skywalk in place, locals need not worry about queue management, and the time required for devotees to receive darshan will be significantly reduced. Amenities such as drinking water, toilets, lifts, and medical facilities will be available within the mandaps and darshan ranga (queues). Food services will be provided through Annachhatra, and devotees will enter the shrine via a token system, facilitating quicker darshan. Additionally, the crowd will be controlled by allowing entry into the mandap and darshan ranga (queues) at designated times.
Separate arrangements will also be made for divyangjan (special-needs individuals), senior citizens, and mothers to ensure their comfort and accessibility.
