PMRDA plans a new hill station around Lavasa

Western Maharashtra may soon get a new tourist destination. The Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) has announced that they will be developing the areas around Lavasa city into a new hill station.

PMRDA officials also informed that they will be changing Lavasa's status from 'gated city' to 'access-to-all' to allow free movement for tourists and local residents.

Recently, the state government scrapped the special planning authority status of Lavasa Corporation Ltd, officially handed over it to the PMRDA, following which clearance from civic body will be required for any development in and around the hill station.

On Thursday, the PMRDA officially took over the corporation. PMRDA chief Kiran Gitte said, "Following the Government Resolution, our officials have taken over the records and documents of permissions granted to Lavasa, and will review them."

After taking over, PMRDA announced that it will develop a new hill station around Lavasa city, which will be spread over 23,000 acres, and includes 18 villages from Mulshi and Velha tehsils.

Of the 23,000 acres, 10,500 are owned by Lavasa Corporation Ltd. PMRDA is now planning to develop the whole area excluding the area owned by Lavasa Corporation Ltd into a new hill station.

"The State government has a policy to develop new destinations for tourist attractions. The area around Lavasa city has some government land, and lakes that will be developed into tourists destinations," Gitte said.