The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) on Monday said it will launch special Mumbai Darshan tours that will take tourists to 60 locations across the city. 14 sightseeing spots and 43 drive-past spots are part of the itinerary.
The revamped tours will be flagged off by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on Thursday.
State Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal said that the Mumbai Darshan tour launch is a step towards boosting the tourism. “Through this initiative, we are not only aiming at highlighting heritage that Maharashtra has to offer, but also to give a new outlook and revive the tourism sector in the state,” he added.
Satish Soni, joint managing director, MTDC, said, the excursion will be conducted with licensed tourist guides and in air-conditioned buses provided by BEST. The tour will be divided in two routes with different pick-up and drop points, which will cover the city’s iconic spots and tourism attractions. Tour 1, lasting eight hours and 30 minutes, will begin from CST. Tour 2 will begin from Dadar (E) near the MTDC counter, and last 10 hours. Both tours will drop tourists back to the pick-up point.
Valsa Nair-Singh, principal secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, said, “There are a lot of private bus tours in Mumbai, but this is the first time the government is doing it. When the government launches such projects, there is a certain amount of credibility and authenticity attached to it. It’s a one-day itinerary, but we will come out with a three-day itinerary very soon, based on the demand. We have tried to do justice to Mumbai by including 60 destinations.”
Initially, the tours will be available on weekends, and on a daily basis from October. Passengers can book the tours online and on phone. The Gold package (Rs. 725) will accord tourists express entry to museums and temples and include tickets. A Silver package for Rs. 499 will also be available.
