SRINAGAR: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Tuesday said that the state government will construct “Maharashtra Bhavan” in Jammu and Kashmir’s capital city Srinagar and Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.
Maharashtra Bhawan in Srinagar will be the inaugural guesthouse established by the state government in Kashmir. It aims to offer comfortable accommodations and facilities for tourists from Maharashtra visiting the region.
Pawar, who also holds the Finance Ministry portfolio, was speaking after presenting the state budget. “It has been decided to construct ‘Maharashtra Bhavan’ at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir and Sri Ram Janmabhoomi, Ayodhya to provide better and safer facilities to the tourists and devotees of the State at reasonable rates. In both these places, the respective State Governments have provided land at prime locations for which a provision of Rs. 77 crores is proposed,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Department has already approved land transfer for the Maharashtra Bhawan.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the transfer of Shamilat Deh (Mehfooz Kahcharie) land measuring 20 kanal under Survey No 576 min situated at estate Ichgam, Budgam in favour of Maharashtra state in terms of Rule 310 of General Financial Rules, 2017, on payment of transfer value of Rs 8.16 crore, which is Rs 40.8 lakh per kanal for construction of Maharshtra Bhawan,” reads an order issued by Secretary Revenue Department.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, had reached out Raj Bhawan in Srinagar in June 2023 proposing the construction of a Maharashtra Bhavan in Kashmir. Shinde met Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha in Srinagar.
In a letter he personally handed over to Sinha, Shinde expressed his admiration for the progress witnessed in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Acknowledging the region’s transformation under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and local leadership, Shinde stated that he believes this evolution would present an ideal opportunity for greater integration between Maharashtra and Kashmir.
