In Maharashtra’s Jalna district, 2018-batch IAS officer and District Collector Ashima Mittal has led the transformation of Motibagh, an underutilised lakeside area, into a vibrant public destination. After taking charge in August 2025, Mittal identified the lakefront’s potential and pursued a cost-effective development plan using local materials, district funds and community participation.
The revamped space now includes MH21 Chowpatty, a Traffic Park, landscaped gardens, illuminated walkways, a Sunset View Point, public seating, parking and recreational areas. More than 1,000 people visit the site each day. The project is also linked to Jalna’s wider economic ambitions, including its “Three S” identity of Steel, Seed and Silk.
Alongside the lakefront transformation, the administration is developing a silk ecosystem, with cultivation training underway across 3,000 acres and 30 women trained in silk weaving. The work forms part of the broader “Rising Jalna” campaign, which aims to promote technology, AI adoption, new projects and investment.
From Lakefront To Public Space
The Motibagh transformation began with Mittal’s observation that the lake itself had considerable natural appeal but lacked the surrounding development needed to make it a meaningful public destination. She recalled that when she arrived in Jalna in August 2025, she saw “a beautiful lake” but little development around it. She subsequently granted administrative approval for the project in December using available district funds.
Rather than relying on expensive infrastructure, the plan focused on local resources and community participation. “My vision was to develop it cost-effectively by using local materials and involving the local community,” Mittal told Indian Masterminds. One of the most visible additions is MH21 Chowpatty, a food court inspired by Indore’s famous “56 Dukan”.
Named after Jalna’s MH-21 vehicle registration code, the food court was planned with 21 outlets. Twelve are currently operational, with the remaining nine planned for the future. Existing shops were renovated and painted in vibrant colours, while a large shade structure was added to keep the area usable during both harsh sunlight and monsoon rains.
The project was designed to serve purposes beyond recreation and beautification. Motibagh now incorporates a Traffic Park intended to help visitors, particularly children and young people, learn about road safety through traffic signs, awareness installations and educational displays. An existing rail track within the premises was renovated and incorporated into the site’s design. Another major attraction is the Sunset View Point, connected by an illuminated walkway extending beyond the lake.
At the viewpoint is a sculpture of Maharashtra’s state bird facing the national flag. The installation also carries economic symbolism, representing Jalna’s “Three S” pillars: Steel, Seed and Silk. Jalna is known for its steel and seed industries, while the administration is seeking to establish the district as a silk production hub. “We are setting up a silk market in Jalna from scratch – covering the entire value chain from soil to fabric,” Mittal said. Training for silk cultivation is underway across 3,000 acres, a cocoon market is nearing completion, silk reeling has begun, and 30 women have been trained in weaving over four months.
Part Of A Wider Jalna Push
Motibagh is one component of the administration’s wider effort to change how Jalna is perceived and to encourage investment and economic activity. The “Rising Jalna” campaign was launched around the district’s Foundation Day on May 1, with the administration designating Jalna’s 46th year as the “Rising Jalna” year.
According to Mittal, the campaign focuses on positive activities, new projects, technology adoption and the use of AI, while encouraging citizens, businesses and industries to see the district’s potential. The administration is also working to promote Jalna as an investment and export destination. A dry port was inaugurated on May 25, which Mittal described as a facility enabling direct exports without the need for a seaport. She said the administration is seeking to attract more export-oriented industries to the city. The Motibagh project reflects the same approach at the local level.
Its gardens, recreational zones, seating areas, parking facilities and upcoming children’s play equipment have helped turn the lakefront into a regular gathering space. According to Mittal, more than 1,000 people visit the site daily, with the actual footfall often higher.
The increased activity has also created opportunities for vendors and small businesses while giving residents a place for recreation, exercise, family outings and social interaction. For women seeking alternatives to bidi work, the silk initiative offers another dimension to the development effort. Mittal said women involved in bidi work had approached her for assistance and that the administration was trying to help them move into silk weaving as a home-based livelihood.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Motibagh story offers a useful reminder that public development does not always have to begin with large-scale construction or expensive projects. It can begin by recognising the potential of an existing space, listening to local needs and finding ways for communities to participate in its transformation. What makes the initiative particularly significant is its attempt to connect public spaces with everyday quality of life, local enterprise, road-safety awareness and livelihood opportunities.
The development of Motibagh, alongside the silk initiative and the wider “Rising Jalna” campaign, also shows how civic pride can be built through tangible improvements that people can experience themselves. At the same time, such projects are most meaningful when their benefits remain accessible, inclusive and sustainable for the communities they are intended to serve.
As Mittal put it, “Happiness is crucial for the citizens. Without it, the joy of living in the city is lost.” Can transforming overlooked public spaces into inclusive community destinations become a bigger part of how Indian cities grow?
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