Pune: The Member of Parliament (MP) of Maval, Shrirang Barne, batted for special tourism status for Pandharpur and the iconic forts in the State. Barne made this demand through a starred question that he put forward during Lok Sabha proceedings on Monday.

While responding to Barne’s question, Minister of Tourism Mahesh Sharma assured that Pandharpur will be included in PRASAD scheme, and added that forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are proud heritage of the nation. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, is keen on restoring these forts and the Central government would be sanctioning a special grant for the restoration project.

The Ministry of Tourism is undertaking the development of major tourist and pilgrim centres through its scheme Swadesh Darshan and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme for developing religious  destinations. 

Under ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme, coastal circuit development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit is being carried out and similarly, rejuvenation of Trimbakeshwar is being carried out under PRASAD scheme. Barne demanded that as every year several tourists come to visit forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the State, they should be included in ‘Virasat Paripat’ scheme run by Ministry of Tourism. Barne said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s valour and war strategy is the subject of research work across  the world.