CM okays Rs500cr Chikhaldara development plan

Chikhaldara: Ignored and neglected for long, Vidarbha’s only hill station — Chikhaldara — is all set to witness a change of fortune with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis approving an ambitious Rs 500 crore development plan to tap its tourism potential.
“Chikhaldara has best forest and climatic conditions. It is bigger than Mahabaleshwar but smaller in tourist inflow, despite its potential to blossom into a great tourist destination,” Fadnavis said while inaugurating the four-day Chikhaldara Tourism Festival on Friday.He said that Chikhaldara lagged behind because of poor road connectivity and basic infrastructure needed to attract tourists.
“At a time when tourism has emerged as the largest employment generating sector, it is essential to exploit the tourism potential of Chikhaldara,” stressed Fadnavis and announced that City and Industrial Development Corporation’s (CIDCO) plan for the town, pending for years, has been approved by him on Thursday night itself. “CIDCO will now invest Rs 500 crore in Chikhaldara to create basic tourism infrastructure.
The chief minister said that he has asked CIDCO’s chief administrative officer Sunil Kendrekar to personally execute the plan to perfection. “In 15 days, I will relieve him (Kendrekar) of the charge as Aurangabad municipal commissioner to enable him take up this responsibility full time. He said that the plan would be implemented in a time-bound manner. “When tourists start thinking about their holiday destinations, Chikhaldara should come first to their mind. This is my wish and I am confident CIDCO will develop the place in the same manner,” Fadnavis said. He also said that strawberry production being done by Chikhaldara farmers could be another attraction for the tourists.
Amravati guardian minister Pravin Pote presided over the function, graced also by state home minister Ranjit Patil, MP Anand Adsul, MLAs Sunil Deshmukh, Ravi Rana, Anil Bonde, Prabhudas Bhilawekar, CIDCO’s Kendrekar, Chikhaldara municipal chief Rajendrasinh Somwanshi, divisional commissioner Dnyaneshwar Rajurkar, collector Kiran Gitte and others.
Referring to the demand for increased FSI of 1.5, Fadnavis assured to ‘consider’ it in the CIDCO plan itself. “If the FSI is granted as demanded, there is every possibility of a concrete jungle coming up here. Most of the tourist places have lost their glory because of this. Don’t let Chikhaldara turn into one,” Fadnavis exhorted.
The CM said that a large piece of land given to Raj Holidays on lease would be taken back by MTDC and a tourism village would be set up there. Stating that nature needs to be preserved, Fadnavis said that feasibility of a cable car project would be checked along with that of a hydro project.
Assuring to provide 24-hour electricity to Melghat in near future, Fadnavis also pointed out that Harisal in Melghat would soon be developed as the first digital village in India with the help of Microsoft. He said that a survey is being conducted to assess the possibility of Akola-Akot-Indore railway route gauge conversion. “I have deep love for Amravati and Chikhaldara. Whatever you want me to do for development there, get it done from me. I will never back out,” he said to a thunderous applause.
A large gathering of tribals was present at the police parade ground even though the CM arrived a bit late at the venue.
Collector Kiran Gitte and Rajendrasnh Somwanshi made introductory speeches while MLA Prabhudas Bhilawekar, MP Anand Adsul and Pravin Pote also spoke.