The Centre and the State intend to develop eight lighthouses, including the Kanhoji Angre island lighthouse, in Maharashtra under the initiative.

Maharashtra has accorded priority to developing tourism and 2017 will be celebrated ‘Visit Maharashtra Year’ by the government, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday after laying the foundation stone for a passenger jetty at Kanhoji Angre Island off the Mumbai coast.

Mr Fadnavis and Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari flagged off the lighthouse tourism initiative in the State after the stone-laying ceremony at the island.

The Centre and the State intend to develop eight lighthouses, including the Kanhoji Angre island lighthouse, in Maharashtra under the initiative. The other lighthouses selected for development under this initiative include Sunk Rock, Uttan Point off Mumbai coast, Korlai Fort off Alibaug coast, Jaigadh, Ratnagiri, Devgadh, and Vengurla Rocks in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

Job potential

Mr Gadkari said these lighthouses and islands had remained neglected and the initiative to make them tourist attractions would generate employment and open a new means of livelihood for the local population. Mr Fadnvis welcomed the idea of developing the lighthouses and said the State would benefit from it.

The Kanhoji Angre island lighthouse was built in 1867 by the British government. Located off the Alibag coast, it marks the entry point to the Mumbai harbour and acts as a prime aid of navigation for ships entering and leaving the Mumbai port.

The Mumbai Port Trust has given in-principle approval to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation for undertaking tourism promotion works. The jetty, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 16 crore, will facilitate smooth berthing of passenger boats and disembarkation of passengers visiting the island. The jetty will be 37-metre long and 10-metre wide and connected to the island by a 150-metre long approach road, officials said.