Lok Sabha Question No. 170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Promotion of Religious Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shantanu Thakur, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, John Barla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†170 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM

## †170. SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGBHAI:

SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI JOHN BARLA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  develop  spiritual/religious tourism  places  across  the  country  including  Gujarat,  West  Bengal and  Bihar  under  National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual Augmentation Drive;
- (b) whether the Government has sanctioned funds to promote religious tourism during the last three years; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c): Ministry of Tourism, under its scheme 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive'  (PRASHAD)  provides  Central Financial Assistance for infrastructure development and beautification of pilgrimage centres on receipt of suitable DPRs from the respective State Governments/UT Administrations, subject to availability of funds, liquidation  of  pending  utilisation  certificate  against  the  fund  released earlier  and  adherence  to  the  relevant  scheme  guidelines.  The  details  of the projects sanctioned under the scheme including the states of Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar is at Annexure.

The Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going promotional activities, annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brandline, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country, including the spiritual/religious tourism places. Promotions are also undertaken through the Social Media accounts and website of the Ministry.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†170 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020 REGARDING PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM

| State/UTs       | Name of the Project                                                                 | Year of Sanction   |   Approved cost (Cr. Rs.) |   Amount Released (Cr. Rs.) |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|
| ANDHRA PRADESH  | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination             | 2015-16            |                     27.77 |                       27.77 |
|                 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                     | 2017-18            |                     47.45 |                       37.96 |
| ASSAM           | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati    | 2015-16            |                     30.71 |                       24.57 |
| BIHAR           | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar                    | 2014-15            |                      4.27 |                        2.91 |
|                 | Development at Patna Sahib                                                          | 2015-16            |                     41.54 |                       33.23 |
| GUJARAT         | Development of Dwarka                                                               | 2016-17            |                     13.08 |                       10.46 |
| GUJARAT         | Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath                                                     | 2016-17            |                     45.36 |                       45.36 |
|                 | Development of Promenade at Somnath under PRASHAD Scheme                            | 2018-19            |                     44.59 |                       37.9  |
| HARYANA         | Development of Nada SahebGurudwara and Mata Mansha Devi Temple in PanchkulaDistrict | 2019-20            |                     49.52 |                        7.67 |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR | Development at Hazratbal,                                                           | 2016-17            |                     40.46 |                       32.37 |
| JHARKHAND       | Development of                                                                      | 2018-19            |                     39.13 |                       11.58 |

|                | BaidyanathjiDham, Deoghar                                                                                             | BaidyanathjiDham, Deoghar                                                                                             |                 |             |             |
|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|-------------|
| KERALA         | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                       | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                       | 2016-17         | 46.14       | 36.91       |
| MADHYA PRADESH | Development Omkareshwar                                                                                               | of                                                                                                                    | 2017-18         | 44.83       | 35.87       |
| MAHARASHTRA    | Development                                                                                                           | of                                                                                                                    | 2017-18         | 37.81       | 8.49        |
| NAGALAND       | Development Pilgrimage Infrastructure Nagaland                                                                        | of in                                                                                                                 | 2018-19         | 25.26       | 7.53        |
| ODISHA         | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree JagannathDham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Deuli under Mega Circuit | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree JagannathDham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Deuli under Mega Circuit | 2014-15         | 50.00       | 10.00       |
| PUNJAB         | Development KarunaSagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                                                     | of                                                                                                                    | 2015-16         | 6.40        | 6.40        |
| RAJASTHAN      | Integrated Development Pushkar/Ajmer                                                                                  | of                                                                                                                    | 2015-16         | 32.64       | 26.11       |
| TAMILNADU      | Development Kanchipuram                                                                                               | of                                                                                                                    | 2016-17         | 13.99       | 13.99       |
| TAMILNADU      | Development Vellankani                                                                                                | of                                                                                                                    | 2016-17         | 4.86        | 4.86        |
| UTTARAKHAND    | Integrated Development Kedarnath Development Infrastructure                                                           | of of for                                                                                                             | 2015-16         | 34.78       | 27.83       |
| UTTAR PRADESH  | Facilitation BadrinathJiDham (Uttarakhand) PRASHAD Scheme Development Mathura-Vrindavan                               | in under of                                                                                                           | 2018-19 2014-15 | 39.24 14.93 | 11.77 10.38 |

|             | as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                                          |         |       |                        |
|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|------------------------|
|             | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan, Distt. Mathura | 2014-15 |  9.36 | 9.36                   |
|             | Development of Varanasi                                                  | 2015-16 | 20.4  | 16.32                  |
|             | Cruise Tourism in River Ganga, Varanasi                                  | 2017-18 | 10.72 | 8.57                   |
|             | Development of Varanasi Under Prashad Scheme - Phase II                  | 2017-18 | 44.6  | 31.77                  |
|             | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan, Mathura, UP       | 2018-19 | 39.74 | 14.23                  |
| WEST BENGAL | Development of Belur                                                     | 2016-17 | 30.03 | 23.39                  |
| MEGHALAYA   | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation in Meghalaya                      | 2020-21 | 29.32 | Admn Sanction 05.05.20 |

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