Maharashtra plans new hill station

To develop 7,000 acres of land near Koyna dam

Almost 40 years after it was built, the state is finally planning to exploit the tourism potential of the Koyna dam.

Holiday makers from metros like Mumbai and Pune who want to escape the city, can now look forward to weekends on Koyna dam backwaters. All thanks to the state tourism development corporation.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is planning to develop 7,000 hectare of land adjoining the Koyna backwaters into the first ever hill station developed after the British Raj.

MTDC MD Bhushan Gagrani said, "This is the first attempt by any government or agency after the British Raj to develop a hill station."

To be christened New Mahabaleshwar, the township will be developed between the Tapola lake at Mahabaleshwar and the Koyna dam backwaters, over the next 15 years.

Gagrani added, "The USP of this new hill station will be that no hill station in India would have such a large and picturesque water front. One will be able to get a view of the water front from any corner of the town."

"When we conceived the idea in 2003, the cost was pegged at around Rs 700 crore.

But since then, no fresh study has been carried out, I would not like to comment on the cost of the project at current prices," he said.

"Recently, we received a go-ahead from the state government for the project and soon we will appoint a consultant to carry out a feasibility study and then invite international developers to bid for the project," he added.

Speaking on private sector participation in the project, Gagrani said "Of course, we are also looking for private partners as we don't have the financial muscle to undertake such a project on our own.

The biggest attraction for any private bidder will be that there is hardly any land acquisition required for the project because the township will be developed on government land."