Pune: Jejuri Fort Pilgrimage Development Plan Faces Setback as Tender Process Halted
Pune: The first phase of the Sri Kshetra Jejuri Fort Pilgrimage Development Plan, a significant project aimed at enhancing the historic Shree Khandoba Dev Sansthan in Purandar taluka and Jejuri town, has encountered a major administrative hiccup. The Public Works Department (PWD) granted mutual administrative approval for an external bypass road without obtaining the necessary permission from Dr. Suhas Diwase, the Collector and Chairman of the District Development Planning Committee. This bypassing of protocol has led to the immediate suspension of the tender process by the Collector.
The state government had earlier approved a comprehensive development scheme for the Jejuri Fort Pilgrimage, with a total budget of approximately Rs. 349.45 crores. The project, to be executed in three phases, aims to preserve and enhance the fort’s infrastructure and surrounding areas. The first phase alone, valued at Rs. 109.57 crores, includes significant preservation and repair works.
Key allocations in the first phase include:
Rs. 11.23 crores for the preservation and repair of the entire fortification.
Rs. 11.25 crores for the restoration of lamp posts, stairways, and arches.
Rs. 12.22 crores for ancillary structures and historic ponds.
Rs. 12.56 crores for other water bodies’ preservation.
Rs. 10.73 crores for temple restoration projects.
Additionally, Rs. 12 crores has been earmarked for basic infrastructure improvements, and Rs. 18 lakhs for landscape development.
The issue arose when an external bypass road, which was part of the first phase of the development plan, received administrative approval from PWD without the knowledge or consent of the Collector. The road had previously been approved by a committee headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with further endorsement by the apex committee, following which the planning department issued an order for its execution. However, during the Lok Sabha election code of conduct, the design work was put on hold, and PWD engineers proceeded with the tender process independently.
Upon discovering this unauthorized approval, Dr. Diwase promptly issued an order to PWD to halt the tender process.
“It is essential to implement the Jejuri Pilgrimage Development Plan as per the Department of Archaeology’s directives,” said Sanjay Jagtap, MLA of Purandar. He confirmed that PWD has requested the immediate cancellation of the planned bypass road tender.
Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase further stated, “The relevant tender process has been stopped. A fresh meeting of the executive committee will be held, and a new tender process will be implemented. Actual work will commence thereafter.”
The suspension of the tender process marks a temporary setback in the ambitious development project, but the authorities are taking swift action to ensure that the project progresses as planned, with proper administrative procedures in place.
