Maharashtra plans to convert forts into heritage hotels

In a move to boost tourism, the Maharashtra government is looking at developing of hotels and tourism infrastructure around old forts.

"We are blessed with forts, we have around 450 forts in Maharashtra, the highest in any Indian state," Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal said.

According to him, there are three basic categories of forts - those  that come under the Archaeological Survey of India,  the ones that are under the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums of Maharashtra and those which are undesignated.

Rawal has already made a presentation to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on this proposal and it has been received positively.

"We are looking at the third category, the undesignated ones, which do not fall under either  the ASI or the Maharashtra directorate," Rawal said, adding that the hotels would be developed in such a way that the heritage is not disturbed.

He said that some forts have been identified, including in the coastal Sindhudurg district. "We have to transfer the land to the tourism department and then start development," he said, adding that the department would ensure that the "heritage parts" remains protected.