Pune: The 'Safari Park and Amusement Center' project, which was being implemented by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal at Moshi but stalled after independence, will now be jointly implemented by the Maharashtra state government's tourism department and the Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation. The decision was sealed at a meeting between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray.

The corporation had earlier planned to implement an international standard safari park project in Moshi on the lines of Singapore's Sentosa Park at a cost of about Rs 1,500 crore. BJP MLA Mahesh Landage had followed up the issue.

The project, which had added to the splendour of the city, was showing signs of stalling after the state's relocation. Initially, the expected action did not take place. Later, the future of the project was darkened due to election code of conduct, the COVID-19 crisis amongst others.

Against this backdrop, the Deputy Chief Minister held a meeting in this regard at the Ministry. Minister of Tourism Aditya Thackeray, Minister of State Aditi Tatkare along with senior staff and officials of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation were present. The project was reviewed during the discussion. The tourism department and the municipal corporation jointly removed the errors.

The land allotted for the project will be handed over to the tourism department and the municipal corporation and the state government will bear the cost of the project.

The land reserved for the safari park project will be used by the Corporation's landfill, a move that was sparked last year when all parties staged a 'Moshi Bandh' protest. Local MLA Mahesh Landage had announced that the project would be completed in three years. Earlier, the tourism minister had said that if a detailed project report is submitted, it will be approved immediately. However, work on the project stalled later.