18 August,2026 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The project will give priority to local people for employment opportunities, particularly those affected by the development, officials said. Pic/Special Arrangement
The Maharashtra government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Hotels Company Ltd, part of the Taj Group, and the Shiroda-Velagar Landowners Cooperative Society Ltd to speed up tourism development at Shiroda-Velagar in Sindhudurg district, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Fisheries Development Minister Nitesh Rane and Minister of State for Tourism Indranil Naik.
The project will give priority to local people for employment opportunities, particularly those affected by the development, officials said.
The government said the project has been planned with the interests of the local community in mind. It is expected to create new employment opportunities and support the local economy.
The Taj Group will undertake or support skill development and training programmes for young people in the area.
The initiative aims to improve the employability of local youth and help them access jobs created through the tourism project.
As part of the agreement, 23 stalls operating in the project area will be shifted to the picnic spot and parking area.
The move is intended to accommodate the development while taking the interests of existing local stallholders into consideration.
The government said that tourism development at Shiroda-Velagar will help unlock Sindhudurg's tourism potential.
The project is also expected to strengthen the local economy by generating employment and creating opportunities for skill development.
Officials said the Maharashtra government would focus on ensuring community participation and protecting local interests during the implementation of the project.
The state government had approved the signing of an agreement with Indian Hotels Company Ltd, the Taj Group company, on June 30, 2026.
The latest MoU between the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), Indian Hotels Company Ltd and the Shiroda-Velagar Landowners Cooperative Society marks a further step towards implementing the tourism project.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Tourism Department Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Khandare, MTDC Managing Director Nilesh Gatne and other senior officials attended the signing ceremony.
Puneet Chhatwal, Chief Executive Officer of Indian Hotels Company Ltd, Rajendra Mishra, Executive Vice-President, and representatives of the Shiroda-Velagar Landowners Cooperative Society were also present.
