17 tourist spots in suburbs

In a major decision, 17 spots, including beaches and heritage caves, in the suburbs were declared as tourist spots under the C-category during the district planning and development council meeting on Monday.

In a major decision, 17 spots, including beaches and heritage caves, in the suburbs were declared as tourist spots under the C-category during the district planning and development council meeting on Monday.

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The council also allocated Rs 6 crore to upgrade the basic facilities at these spots.

These tourist spots include Juhu beach, Bandra Bandstand, Aksa, Gorai and Manori beaches and Mandapeshwar Caves at Jogeshwari and Kanheri Caves at Borivli.

“We have charted a Rs 133-crore budget for the works to take place under the Mumbai suburban district planning and development council in 2011-12, of which we have set aside Rs 6 crore for the new head of tourism. It is for the first time that such a view has been taken,” said Naseem Khan, minorities minister and guardian minister of the Mumbai suburban.

“We will be using this provision to improve basic facilities such as toilets, drinking water, dustbins and seating areas, which will promote these areas,” said Khan.

Tourism spots in the state are classified under three categories — A, B and C — depending on the place, number of visitors and historical significance of the place, and then these spots are given state grants for their upgrade.

In addition to the money allocated by the council, these seventeen spots will also be eligible for additional grants.

Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner in-charge of the western suburbs, said this step would boost infrastructure development in these areas. A plan will also be chalked out to see how these areas could be developed further.

“Many of these areas identified, such as the beaches, are untapped having huge tourist potential. Once we get the list and directions from the tourism department we will upgrade the basic facilities available there,” Mhaiskar said.