Maharashtra To Pump In Rs 344 Crore For Elephanta Caves Facelift

To give tourism in Maharashtra a boost, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved a Rs 344.37 crore package to give the famed Elephanta Caves off the coast of Mumbai a facelift. While the approved package drops some of the earlier proposals such as a helipad as well as accommodation for tourists, it is mainly aimed at preserving the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Officials from the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) have stated that the project involves a Rs 99.7 crore investment by the MTDC itself while the remaining money (Rs 251.50 crore) would be raised through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The PPP funding is mainly being sought to build a ropeway across the harbour, connecting the Gharapuri Island where the caves are located to Mumbai.

“Elephanta Caves see an annual footfall of nearly seven lakh visitors and are one of the must-visit places around Mumbai. It will be soon of world-class standards. The facelift will include several amenities for the public and also use of many eco-friendly methods for toilets and dustbins,” Principal Secretary Valsa Nair Singh has said.

The plan also includes the construction of a jetty at the Gateway of India to ferry tourists to the cave site. “It will be easier to ferry a boat to the Elephanta Caves. The journey to the caves will be a better experience,” a government official has said.