MUMBAI: A few months ago, the Shirdi Sai Sansthan Trust closed down VIP darshan of Sai Baba on weekends and Thursday. The idea was to give priority to members of public. However, the state government seems to have disregarded this policy. 

In a meeting at Shirdi under the chairmanship of chief minister Ashok Chavan recently, the state government decided to appoint an officer of deputy collector rank to receive VVIPs. The chief minister's office has also asked the additional chief secretary (revenue) to appoint an officer soon. Interestingly, most of the VVIPs and celebrities visit Shirdi during weekends. 

"Shirdi figures in the itinerary of several ministers, chief ministers of other states and top officials from across the country. There have been times when low-ranking officers have been deputed to receive them. We need to have senior officer to receive them and arrange darshan,'' said a senior IAS officer. 

Shirdi has a government guest house where VVIPs stay during their visit. The Shirdi Sai Sansthan Trust has also set aside 24 rooms for VVIPs. Some, however, prefer to stay in posh hotels. The government also wants to promote tourism at Shirdi and has asked principal secretary (tourism) to come up with plans. "We plan to offer increased FSI to promote the hotel industry here. The locals have demanded that Shirdi be declared as a tourism zone,'' said a Congress leader. 

Chavan has asked his officials to make a disaster management plan for Shirdi. The trust is in the process of installing a Rs 5-crore security system. 

The Maharashtra Airport Development Company is constructing an airport to connect Shirdi with other parts of the country. Chavan has said that the farmers who gave away their land for the project be accorded priority in employment. 

The government has also asked for the appointment of a deputy superintendent of police to check crime and manage traffic in Shirdi.