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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 9:20:26 am

Blocked roads take life

Kolhapur: Ten minutes. That is the gap the family of Nalini Ganesh Mainkar says may have separated life from death. On Tuesday, as preparations for Ganeshotsav gathered pace in Kolhapur, Mainkar, a resident of Wangibol in Shivaji Peth, suddenly fell critically ill after her blood pressure dropped. Her family immediately called an ambulance. The ambulance came. But it could not reach her home without delay. According to the family and the ambulance driver, roads were blocked at two or three...

Blocked roads take life

Kolhapur: Ten minutes. That is the gap the family of Nalini Ganesh Mainkar says may have separated life from death. On Tuesday, as preparations for Ganeshotsav gathered pace in Kolhapur, Mainkar, a resident of Wangibol in Shivaji Peth, suddenly fell critically ill after her blood pressure dropped. Her family immediately called an ambulance. The ambulance came. But it could not reach her home without delay. According to the family and the ambulance driver, roads were blocked at two or three locations by festival pandals, forcing the ambulance to negotiate alternative routes. By the time Mainkar was taken to hospital, doctors reportedly told the family that she had arrived about 10 minutes late. She died soon afterwards. For the Mainkar family, those 10 minutes are now an unbearable question: could she have survived if the ambulance had reached her on time? No medical conclusion establishing that link has been made public. But the incident has exposed a larger and recurring civic failure—the vulnerability of emergency services when public roads are allowed to become festival spaces. Mainkar lived barely a few minutes away from the Ambabai temple and had served there as a sevekari for several years. On Tuesday, her family watched helplessly as her condition deteriorated while the ambulance struggled to reach the house. The ambulance driver, the family said, acknowledged that the vehicle was delayed because of obstructions created by pandals at multiple points. No Implementation The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation has stipulated that a public festival pandal cannot occupy more than 25 per cent of the width of a road. The regulation is intended to ensure that traffic, pedestrians and emergency vehicles can continue to move. But on the ground, residents say, the distinction between a permitted pandal and a blocked road often disappears. In several parts of the old city, particularly the gaothan areas, festival structures have narrowed or closed roads. In other places, roads have been dug up for drainage and civic works. The result is a maze of bottlenecks at precisely the time when emergency vehicles need unobstructed access. The problem does not end with pandals. During festival processions, arrangements for dedicated passage of ambulances and fire engines are often inadequate. A traffic diversion that causes a commuter a few minutes of inconvenience can have an entirely different consequence for a patient suffering a cardiac emergency, major trauma or respiratory distress.

Konkan Tourism Gets a Digital Boost

Correspondent
Jul 21
2 min read

KokanHomestays.in Launched to Support Local Homestays and Small Businesses

In a significant step towards promoting tourism in the Konkan region and empowering local entrepreneurs, KokanHomestays.in has been launched as a dedicated digital platform for homestays across Konkan. The initiative aims to increase the online visibility of small homestays, connect them with travelers, and strengthen the local tourism ecosystem.


Konkan is renowned for its pristine beaches, scenic coastline, forts, temples, lush greenery, and authentic Malvani cuisine. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the region, yet many small and family-run homestays struggle to attract visitors due to limited digital presence and marketing resources.


To address this gap, KokanHomestays.in brings together verified homestays on a single platform, making it easier for travelers to discover authentic accommodations while helping local property owners reach a wider audience.


Currently, the platform features:

875+ Homestays

181+ Villages

8 Major Tourist Destinations


The platform covers homestays across Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Palghar, and Thane districts*, providing detailed property information, amenities, contact details, and booking assistance.

Beyond accommodation listings, the initiative aims to promote Konkan tourism, encourage travellers to explore lesser-known destinations, and create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities. Increased tourist footfall is expected to benefit not only homestay owners but also local restaurants, artisans, fishermen, farmers, transport providers, guides, and other small businesses that depend on tourism.


By encouraging visitors to stay with local families instead of conventional hotels, the platform also promotes authentic cultural experiences, traditional cuisine, and the unique lifestyle of Konkan villages.


The registration process has been designed to be simple and accessible, enabling more homestay owners to embrace digital technology and expand their businesses.


As Konkan continues to emerge as one of Maharashtra's most sought-after travel destinations, initiatives like *KokanHomestays.in* are expected to play an important role in strengthening rural tourism, supporting local entrepreneurship, and showcasing the region's rich natural and cultural heritage to a wider audience.


Key Highlights
  • 875+ Homestays Listed
  • 181+ Villages Covered
  • 8 Popular Tourist Destinations
  • Dedicated digital platform for Konkan homestays
  • Mission to promote Konkan tourism and empower local entrepreneurs

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