Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are popular hill resorts in Maharashtra, India, known for their temperate climate, beautiful forests, and striking mountain scenery. However, the increase in tourism in recent years has put a strain on the resources of the plateau, leading to environmental issues such as exploitation of forests and disturbance to local wildlife. In response, a group of concerned citizens and environmental groups formed the Save Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Association to advocate for the protection of the resorts' ecology. The government of Maharashtra then formed the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Regional Planning Board, which was tasked with preparing a regional plan to preserve the resorts' ecology and regulate transport, communications, water supply, and other amenities. The plan prepared by the board sought to balance the need for economic development with the preservation of the natural beauty and ecology of the resorts, and included measures to regulate the number and movement of vehicles, as well as the development of public transport options to reduce reliance on private vehicles.