Bhimashankar rehab plan to decongest temple area one step closer to approval | Pune News

Pune: The plan to rehabilitate families around the Bhimashankar temple, one of the 12 jyotirlings, and decongest the shrine precinct to ensure better crowd management are the core of the Bhimashankar Development and Comprehensive Rehabilitation Policy which was presented by Pune collector Jitendra Dudi before the planning department secretary on Tuesday in Mumbai.The project will be likely executed in four phases over 18 months. It will start with land acquisition and approvals, followed by infrastructure development, construction of around 120 homes and phased relocation of families along with clearing the temple precinct.The proposal will now be placed before a high-power committee under the chief secretary. It will then be sent for final approval to the apex committee chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.Speaking to TOI after the meeting, Dudi said the plan aims to decongest the temple precinct and rehabilitate local families while preserving the ecology of the area. “We will carry out the entire process in coordination with the villagers,” he said.The proposal envisages rehabilitation of around 125 families from the densely populated temple vicinity to a 36acre site near the main village square area. Around 20acres will be acquired at an estimated Rs33.1 crore as per 2024 ready reckoner rates.Currently, only about 150 tourists can be accommodated comfortably, while around 2,000 devotees crowd the temple steps, leading to congestion and safety concerns. The plan proposes to free up 5,800 sqm of space and expand the temple premises to accommodate 20,000 to 25,000 devotees at a time, especially ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela next year.“The project will improve crowd management, emergency movement and overall devotee experience,” Dudi said.The proposed settlement will include 500 sqft houses for 80% families and 1,000 sqft houses for 20% families, along with shops and service centres linked to temple tourism, community building, primary health centre, primary school and open civic spaces. Commercial spaces in the temple area are proposed to be reserved for rehabilitated families to ensure economic stability and local cooperation.The policy also provides for holding areas, queue corridors, open spaces and emergency routes in the temple precinct after relocation, enabling smooth darshan and safe movement of devotees.The new heritage smart village will feature solar street lighting, underground cabling with zero overhead wires, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment plant with zero liquid discharge, herbal gardens and civic infrastructure, designed with a circular layout and central community space to create a self-sustaining settlement.Officials said the project is expected to serve as a model for sustainable development and heritage preservation at religious sites, balancing spiritual tourism, environmental conservation and local development.