Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister, Advocate Ashish Shelar, has written to Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, urging the transfer of Centrally protected forts under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Maharashtra Government for enhanced conservation and development.

The state is home to 54 Centrally protected and 62 state protected forts. In his letter dated March 24, Shelar emphasised Maharashtra’s proactive role in safeguarding its heritage, having undertaken extensive conservation efforts for the state-protected forts. Reaffirming its commitment, the state cabinet, in its meeting on February 18, expressed its strong intent to actively participate in the preservation of Maratha-era forts that hold immense historical and emotional significance.