Budget of ₹4,000 crore approved for the Pandharpur corridor

(Corridor means a well-equipped and spacious pathway)

Mumbai – In a high-level meeting of the State Cabinet’s apex committee, the ambitious corridor (well-equipped and spacious pathway) project and development plan for Pandharpur have been approved. Under this project, the ghats of the Chandrabhaga River, the pradakshina path, and the temple complex will be beautified. The project has an outlay of ₹4,000 crore. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, MLA Samadhan Autade, and senior officials were present.

1. The project includes cleaning the Chandrabhaga River, beautifying the ghats, widening the main roads leading to the temple, upgrading devotee accommodation, and providing drinking water facilities, toilets, and rest areas along the darshan queue.

2. To reduce the waiting time for darshan, the queue management system will be made more efficient.

3. The project will ensure the comprehensive development of the precincts of the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple.

4. Development works will include wide and safe darshan pathways for devotees, a special corridor for crowd management, modern amenities, sanitation facilities, parking spaces, accommodation arrangements, and essential infrastructure.

5. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed that the land acquisition process required for the project be completed by 1 August 2026.

Regarding concerns, some shops within the temple premises may need to be relocated due to the corridor. Some shopkeepers have opposed the project. The government has stated that proper rehabilitation of affected shops and houses will be ensured, and that religious sanctity will be preserved during the development process.