The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has launched an ambitious and transformative project to establish a state-of-the-art MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) hub in the Tapovan area, with an estimated cost of ₹300 crore. Through this strategic initiative, 90 acres of prime civic land that are mainly used as the temporary Sadhugram site during the once-every-twelve-year Simhastha Kumbh Mela will be put to new use.
By making use of the land during its “off-years”-the 11 years in between the large religious gatherings- the proposed development aims to greatly improve Nashik’s economic and tourism profile. Through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the NMC intends to carry out the project, looking for a private organization to assume responsibility for financing, designing, building, operating, and maintaining the facility for a 30-year leasehold period.
The MICE hub is expected to have temporary, modular, and sustainable infrastructure, including domes and pavilions, that can accommodate conferences, industrial expos, and sizable national and international trade shows. This contemporary complex will give local businesses, such as those in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, a much-needed, long-term venue to display their goods, aid in branding initiatives, and open up new commercial prospects.
The decision has been warmly received by regional trade associations, including the Nashik Industries & Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA), which sees it as a prompt response to the long-standing need for a dedicated exhibition facility. To ensure a consistent flow of income for the civic body during the non-Kumbh period, the chosen agency will generate revenue through services such as parking and retail operations under the proposed PPP framework. A portion of this revenue will be shared with the NMC.
In order to make it easier to prepare for and host the Kumbh Mela, a crucial logistical component of the plan calls for the site to be temporarily returned to the NMC for a year every twelve years. In a quick step toward making Tapovan a thriving, year-round destination for events and commerce, agencies have until November 6 to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoI) in this historic project. This development aligns with the broader infrastructure push in the city ahead of the 2027 Kumbh Mela, positioning Nashik for long-term growth as both a spiritual and commercial center.
