Pune: Lonavla Municipal Council Appeals Private Bungalow Owners To Priorities Safety Of Tourists

Siddhi Dharmadhikari

Lonavla, 29th July 2022: In Lonavala, Khandala, Tungarli and rural areas of Pune district in Maharashtra, the trend of renting private bungalows to tourists has increased. This has started a business competition and many local youths from Mumbai-based bungalow owners have become active in this business. Since this has boosted the economy at all levels, it is seen that many people are getting attracted to this business.

Although the tourism business, which was previously in the hands of a few people, is now being decentralised, the frequent incidents have highlighted the fact that the safety of the tourists coming here and the city are being sidelined somewhere while making money only from the tourism business.

Due to the bombardment of regulations in hotels, tourists have started preferring to stay in private bungalows by paying extra in the name of privacy. For this, packages are taken from Rs 10,000 to Rs one lakh for one night. But, still, the safety of the tourists is being conveniently neglected while taking such a huge amount of money.

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In the last fifteen days, two accidents took place in two places in Lonavala in which two children lost their lives. The deaths of children are regrettable incidents that have tarnished the tourism industry of Lonavala city. A week ago, cricket match bettors were found in a private bungalow in Apti. Earlier in Lonavala and surrounding private bungalows, people involved in gambling and betting, doing parties have been caught.

It’s time to think about whether one is putting the city’s safety and, in turn, their own safety at risk while doing these things.

Information of tourists coming to the hotel is collected, IDs are checked, private security system, CCTV as well as there are some regulations regarding going to the swimming pool in the evening, eating, speaking loudly and shouting. The police also keep an eye on it. Hence, tourists try to stay in private bungalows by paying extra to avoid all these restrictions. Since owners are getting extra money, some bungalow owners here circumvent the rules and provide accommodation to such tourists.

Swimming pools in private bungalows have become a key issue. Whether it is authorized or unauthorized, the Municipal Council and PMRDA will check as soon as possible, the police will take action when necessary. But to prevent accidents from happening in the swimming pool, the owners of bungalows and their operators also need to make some rules.

Like hotels, private bungalows also need to make regulations. It is necessary to pay attention to the noise as it is necessary not to disturb the citizens living nearby. The tourism business is increasing in Lonavala and surrounding areas. It is definitely a matter of success that many locals are coming forward, but due to some mistakes of some people, this profession has started to become infamous.

Before there are legal restrictions on this business, tourists should put restrictions on themselves. Conscious citizens have appealed to people not to rent a bungalow to anyone without checking their identity card, and to always keep in mind that the safety and security of the city and its area is more important than money and business.