Mah to develop Ahmednagar fort as tourist destination

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Government will undertake an ambitious Rs 50.97 crore program to develop the historic Ahmednagar fort, which housed Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel and Maulana Azad as prisoners during the Quit India movement, into a tourist destination.

A phased program of providing tourist infrastructure facilities, permanent exhibition of 'Discovery of India', Nehru's world famous book which was penned during his days in prison at the Fort is being planned.

Beautification of fort area is also on the agenda, Finance Minister Dilip Walse Patil told the Legislative Assembly while presenting his budget proposals for the year 2009-10.

He said a plan of Rs 50.97 crore has been prepared out of which in the first stage works of Rs 24.45 cr will be implemented.
 
The Government has also proposed a provision of Rs three crore to make a film on the life of late Y B Chavan, the first chief minister of the state and the country's deputy Prime Minister. This fund will be made available to the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan.