Pune, 20th August 2026: The Maharashtra Forest Department has decided to regulate the number of tourists entering Sinhagad Fort after a large crowd gathered on August 15 and a violent clash broke out between two groups.
The incident reportedly involved allegations of misbehaviour with women. The situation later escalated into stone-pelting and incidents of clothes being torn during the confrontation.
The department has now decided to introduce a more controlled entry system to prevent overcrowding and improve visitor safety.
Visitors will soon be required to make an advance booking through the Kille Sinhagad mobile app, developed by the Forest Department. The app will record the number of tourists and vehicles entering the fort.
Sinhagad is expected to become the first fort in Maharashtra to require app-based advance registration for entry.
Forest officials said the system will provide real-time information on the daily tourist flow. If the number of visitors rises beyond manageable levels, authorities will be able to temporarily stop further entry.
The system is expected to become operational soon after necessary testing. AI-based technology will also be used to strengthen monitoring and crowd management.
Sinhagad attracts large numbers of visitors, particularly on weekends and public holidays. The growing tourist footfall has also contributed to traffic congestion on the approach roads.
The fort has several pathways leading to it, making it difficult for authorities to monitor visitors who avoid the main entrance. Under the new system, tourists will be encouraged to enter through designated entry points so that their movement can be monitored more effectively.
The Forest Department is also repairing and upgrading CCTV cameras around the fort to improve surveillance.
Tanaji Bhosale of the Haveli Disaster Management and Rescue Team has called for a dedicated Forest Department office at Sinhagad.
He said such an office could oversee forest and wildlife protection, prevent illegal tree cutting and encroachments, manage tourists and ensure round-the-clock patrolling by staff working in shifts.
The new measures are aimed at reducing overcrowding, improving security and ensuring better management of Sinhagad, one of Pune's most popular weekend destinations.