Ajit Pawar Orders Redesign of Rs 909 Crore Lonavala Glass Skywalk Project Amid Lack of Bidders
Lonavala, 29th June 2025: The ambitious ₹909 crore Lonavala Glass Skywalk Project, envisioned as a major tourism attraction, is set for a complete redesign and a revised implementation model after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed concerns over the lack of bidder interest in its current form.
During a high-level review meeting of the project monitoring committee held on Wednesday, Pawar directed the Pune district administration and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to submit a fresh proposal. Officials confirmed that the existing public-private partnership (PPP) model failed to attract a single bidder — even after tenders were floated twice, including once inviting international players.
“Despite multiple efforts, including global tenders, no credible response was received. This clearly indicates a need to rework the strategy,” a senior district official who attended the meeting told Punekar News. “The Deputy CM has instructed us to re-evaluate the financial model to make it more appealing and practical.”
New Financial Model Under Study
Officials now plan to submit a revised proposal by next month, likely incorporating a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mechanism — a model where the government provides financial support to bridge the gap between project cost and revenue.
Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that a final design would be approved only after conducting a detailed financial feasibility analysis.
“The PMRDA and the district collectorate are jointly working on this. We’ve engaged MITRA Consultants for the study. Once that’s completed, we will issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) to seek new partners,” Dudi said.
Delays in Timeline and Construction
Though land acquisition — covering both forest patches and private land parcels — has seen some progress, the overall project has been delayed due to the lack of a finalized design. Originally targeted for completion by June 2027, officials now concede that the deadline is likely to be extended.
Construction work, which was supposed to begin shortly, will be postponed until the redesigned plan and funding model receive approval. Additionally, terrain complexity and seasonal weather challenges have added to engineering difficulties in the hilly Lonavala region.
Tourism and Infrastructure Push
The glass skywalk, once completed, is expected to transform Lonavala into a world-class tourism destination. To support this vision, PMRDA has also proposed complementary infrastructure upgrades around the project zone, including improved road access, parking zones, and emergency response facilities.
A senior PMRDA official told Punekar News, “Our revised plan will focus on making the project more financially viable while staying aligned with the state’s goal of building global-standard tourism hubs. We’re committed to moving forward, but with better planning and partner participation.”
What’s Next?
- Revised proposal to be submitted in July 2025
- Feasibility study by MITRA Consultants underway
- New project model may include government support under VGF
- EOI to be floated post-study
- Updated completion timeline to be announced later
The Lonavala Glass Skywalk Project, first announced in 2022, was conceived as an architectural marvel with panoramic views of the Western Ghats. With the new directives in place, authorities hope to finally place the project on a firm footing and reignite investor interest.
