To revitalise the project, the Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporation (MTDC) is now mulling plans to add more venues to its itinerary, including a visit to dense forests teeming with wildlife.
Not only that, plans are also being drawn up to incorporate a trip to the borders of the neighbouring state of Karnataka. MTDC General Manager Kishori Gadre said, "When first commissioned, the train used to take tourists around Maharashtra to promote tourism in the state. There was also a day trip to Goa. But we have woken up to the need of bringing a change to the travel plans in order to woo tourists. Hence, after beaches and forts, forests will also be accommodated in our DO travel plan."
MTSC is busy studying the feasibility and connectivity of the train route to the planned pit stops. "We are planning to take tourists to the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, a unique ecosystem situated in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. The trip will be seven-day long," said Gadre.
At present, the DO journey flags off from Mumbai and meanders through the state, stopping at Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Belgaum, Kolhapur, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, and the Ajanta-Ellora caves, before heading back to Mumbai.
"The initiative was undertaken to help tourists explore the Konkan belt, which is known for its beautiful beaches and forts. But as the scheme got an average response, the department was forced to rethink factors like cost and availability," said a source from the tourism department. Read the full report here.
Source: by Urvashi Seth, Mid-Day, Mumbai.
