Pune: MTDC to Procure Rs 73.25-Crore Boats for Ujani Dam Aqua Tourism Project
Pune, 28th December 2024: The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has announced plans to purchase boats worth ₹73.25 crore for the Ujani Dam Aqua Tourism Project. The initiative aims to promote water tourism while creating employment opportunities for residents of 60 villages across Pune’s Indapur tehsil and Solapur’s Karmala tehsil.
“MTDC has issued the tender for acquiring various boats, including a luxury yacht, high-speed luxury boats, family cruising boats, bird safari boats, and parasailing boats,” said Solapur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad.
Highlighting the potential impact of the project, he added, “We aim to begin water sports activities by summer 2025. Local youths will receive training to ensure safe operations, boosting tourism and generating employment. This project will also support agro-tourism in the region, offering farmers additional income opportunities.”
The state government has already sanctioned ₹190 crore for the Ujani Dam Aqua Tourism Project, spearheaded by the Solapur district administration. Ujani Dam, located about 150 km from Pune, is one of Maharashtra’s largest dams, with a capacity of 115 TMC of water. The dam is renowned as “India’s avian paradise,” hosting over 240 bird species, including the greater flamingo, Eurasian spoonbill, ruddy shelduck, northern shoveler, and Indian skimmer.
Every year, bird watchers from Pune, Maharashtra, and beyond visit Ujani, a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Central Asian flyway. With its seahorse-shaped reservoir, diverse shorelines, and multiple launching points, the dam holds significant potential for large-scale water tourism.
Currently, locals operate small boats for birdwatching, but the scale of operations remains modest. Residents hope the government project will transform the region’s economy.
The Ujani Dam Aqua Tourism Project not only promises economic growth for the region but also envisions turning Ujani into a premier destination for eco-tourism and water sports enthusiasts. With specialized boats, trained personnel, and improved infrastructure, the project aims to elevate Ujani’s profile as a unique travel destination in Maharashtra.
