Nagpur: Amid a sea of devotees who thronged Deekshabhoomi to mark the 70th Dhammachakra Pravartan Din on Tuesday, a demand was raised for immediate approval of a Rs 951 crore development plan aimed at transforming the historic site into a world-class monument and international tourist destination.
Narnaware said a public interest litigation (PIL) had earlier prompted the state govt to sanction Rs 200 crore for Deekshabhoomi.
We have once again approached the court to ensure their resumption,” he said. Supreme Court advocate Shailesh Narnaware, addressing the main ceremony, urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to sanction the four-phase development plan and make additional govt land available for the monument’s expansion. However, construction was subsequently halted following a controversy over the proposed underground parking facility. “The development works have remained stalled for the past one-and-a-half years. Police maintained tight bandobast throughout the day, with all roads leading to Deekshabhoomi closed to vehicular traffic. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and district administration made elaborate arrangements, including drinking water, sanitation, medical assistance and other essential facilities.