A European style open-air dining experience at Alibaug's Mandwa jetty is expected to kick-start for tourists by December or early next year. Most of the tendering process and other development required for the project is scheduled to be completed by November.

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dna had reported in March about the state government's plan to attract more tourists to Alibaug and motivate them to stay there for longer periods by developing tourism activities in the area.

The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of private players to run open cafeterias at the jetty after the last passenger ship, which leaves at 7pm. At present, there are a few eateries around the jetty, but they shut down once the jetty closes in the evening.

MMB officials said the cafeterias at the jetty would be allowed to remain open till late night, similar to the ones in Europe.

Alibaug sees over 1 lakh tourists on an average day. The consortium has reportedly agreed to pay Rs37 lakh a year to MMB.

"All the development and other works related to the project are expected to be completed latest by November, after which it will be opened for tourists," said Paraag Jain Nainuttia, chief executive officer, MMB.

Cafeterias and eateries around ports and waterbodies are popular across the country and world. Also, Maharashtra is blessed with numerous small ports along its huge 720-odd km coastline extending from Dahanu and Bordi in north up to Goa and down south.

Mandwa jetty is the connecting point from where tourists and others reach Alibaug by boats. The jetty provides boat services at regular intervals to Gateway of India.

The state government plans to develop more such spots across the state in collaboration with the state tourism board and other agencies.