Lok Sabha Question No. 2570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: PRASAD Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, George Baker, ANIL SHIROLE, Richard Hay, MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA, RODMAL NAGAR

- (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2570 ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## PRASAD SCHEME

## †2570. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI GEORGE BAKER:

SHRI ANIL SHIROLE:

PROF. RICHARD HAY:

SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- the salient features of PRASAD scheme;
- (b) the  locations  cities  covered  under  the  scheme  as  on  date, State/UT-wise including Gujarat;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  proposals  from  some other States for inclusion/to be covered under the scheme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) & (b): Ministry of Tourism launched the plan scheme 'National Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Augmentation Drive' (PRASAD) {now 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage  Augmentation  Drive'  (PRASHAD)  with  the  objective  of holistic  development of identified pilgrimage/heritage destinations. The scheme aims at infrastructure development such as development/up-gradation of destination entry points viz. passenger terminals (of road, rail and water transport), basic conveniences like tourism Information/Interpretation Centers with ATM/Money exchange  counters,  improvement  of  road  connectivity  (last  mile connectivity),  procurement  of  equipment  for  eco-friendly  modes  of transport and equipment for tourist activities such as Light & Sound Show,  water/adventure  sports,  renewable  sources  of  energy  for tourist infrastructure, parking facilities, toilets, cloak room facilities, waiting rooms, construction of craft haats/bazars/souvenir shops/cafeteria,  rain shelters, watch  towers,  first aid centers, improvement  in communication  through  establishing telephone booths, mobile services, internet connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot, Shoreline development & rejuvenation of natural water bodies etc.

The  total  number  of  sites  identified  under  this  scheme  at present are 25. These are Amaravati, Srisailam and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), Dwarka and Somnath  (Gujarat), Hazratbal and Katra (Jammu  &  Kashmir), Deogarh  (Jharkhand),  Guruvayoor  (Kerala),  Omkareshwar  (Madhya Pradesh),  Trimbakeshwar  (Maharashtra),  Puri  (Odisha),  Amritsar (Punjab),  Ajmer  (Rajasthan),  Kanchipuram  and  Vellankani  (Tamil Nadu),  Varanasi,  Ayodhya  and  Mathura  (Uttar  Pradesh),  Badrinath and Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Belur (West Bengal).

(c)  & (d): Ministry of Tourism has received the following proposals from  State  Governments/Union  Territories  for  consideration  under PRASHAD Scheme.

- (i) Development of Srirangapatna, District Mandya, Karnataka.
- (ii) Development of Annvaram, District East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh.
- (iii) Development of Amber and Pushkar, Rajasthan.

Approval  to  the  above  proposals  is  subject  to  availability  of funds, liquidation of pending utilization certificate against the fund released earlier and adherence to the guidelines for the scheme.

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