Lavasa : The Abandoned City

Lavasa is a planned city located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, about 60 km from Pune and around 180 km from Mumbai. Modeled on the Italian town of Portofino, Lavasa was envisioned as a modern, self-sustaining city with residential, commercial, educational, and recreational spaces.

Here are some key points about Lavasa:

1. Development: Lavasa was developed by the Lavasa Corporation, which is part of the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC). The project started in the early 2000s and was marketed as India’s first privately planned city.
2. Design and Layout: The city is spread across 7 hills and covers approximately 25,000 acres. Its infrastructure is designed to offer modern amenities while being close to nature, with lakeside promenades, scenic drives, and resorts.
3. Tourism: Lavasa gained popularity as a tourist destination due to its scenic beauty, with activities like water sports, cycling, and trekking available. It also has a number of luxury resorts, restaurants, and an overall serene environment, making it a quick getaway from Pune and Mumbai.
4. Current Status: As of recent years, Lavasa’s development has stalled. Several planned facilities remain incomplete, and while it still attracts some tourists, the city is far from the fully functional metropolis it was intended to be. Efforts are ongoing to revive the project, but the pace is slow.

The concept of Lavasa remains intriguing as a case study in urban planning and development in India, though its future remains uncertain.