Maharashtra is poised to make history by becoming the first state to acquire land in Jammu and Kashmir for constructing a facility catering to tourists and officials visiting the Union Territory.

The proposed Maharashtra Bhawan, the inaugural state Bhawan in the Valley, will be established in central Kashmir’s Budgam, situated on the outskirts of Srinagar city. The Maharashtra cabinet approved the land acquisition on Wednesday.

This Bhawan will be erected on a 2.5-acre plot in Ichgam, near Srinagar airport. The Jammu and Kashmir government has greenlit the land transfer to the Maharashtra government, contingent upon a payment of Rs 8.16 crore. According to a Revenue department memorandum, the transfer involves Shamlat Deh land measuring 20 kanals, with each kanal costing Rs 40.8 lakh, for the construction of Maharashtra Bhawan.

The initiative to procure land and build a tourist facility in this region was kickstarted following a visit by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to Jammu and Kashmir, where he met with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha in June last year. The primary objective of this facility is to provide comfortable accommodation and amenities for tourists and officials from Maharashtra.

During his budget speech, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced the construction of two Maharashtra Bhawans in Srinagar and Ayodhya, aimed at offering improved and secure facilities to tourists and devotees of the state at reasonable rates. Pawar revealed that the state government has allocated Rs 77 crore for the construction of these two state guesthouses.

Before the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, only permanent residents were allowed to purchase land in the region. However, the government could lease land for extended periods, up to 99 years, to industries and individuals from outside the state.