Lok Sabha Question No. 204 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-08
Subject: Religious Tourist Circuits
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Rebati Tripura, Vijay Kumar Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*204 ANSWERED ON 08.07.2019

## RELIGIOUS TOURIST CIRCUITS

- *204. SHRI REBATI TRIPURA: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to establish more religious  tourist  circuits  besides  Ramayana  and  Buddhist Circuits;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise, specially in the NorthEastern States and Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether there has been any progress so far in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*204 ANSWERED ON 08.07.2019 REGARDING RELIGIOUS TOURIST CIRCUITS.

(a) to (e): Ministry of Tourism under its Swadesh Darshan SchemeIntegrated Development of Theme Based Tourist Circuits is developing  tourism  infrastructure  in  the  identified  circuits,  across the  country,  having  tourist  potential  in  a  planned  and  prioritized manner.  Under  the  scheme  fifteen  thematic  circuits  have  been identified for development including themes covering all the religious/spiritual  sites  in  the  country,  namely:  Spiritual  Circuit, Ramayana  Circuit,  Krishna  Circuit,  Buddhist  Circuit,  Tirthankar Circuit and Sufi Circuit.

In addition to above, Ministry is developing tourism infrastructure  at  identified  pilgrimage  and  heritage  destinations under its  PRASHAD Scheme. Ministry has identified 41 sites in 25 states  for  development  under  the  scheme  namely  Amaravati  and Srisailam  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Kamakhya  (Assam),  Parasuram  Kund (Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), Balmeshwari Devi Temple (Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh), Dwarka and Somnath  (Gujarat),  Gurudwara  Nada  Saheb,  Panchkula  (Haryana), Maa  Chintpurni  (Una,  Himachal  Pradesh),  Hazratbal  and  Katra (Jammu & Kashmir), Deogarh and Parasnath (Jharkhand), Chamundeshwari Devi, Mysuru (Karnataka), Guruvayoor, St. Thomas International Shrine, (Malayattoor), Cheraman Juma Mosque (Thrissur, Kerala), Omkareshwar and Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh),  Babedpara,  West  Jaintia  Hills  and  Sohra  (Meghalaya), Aizwal  (Mizoram),  Kohima  and  Mokokchung  Districts  (Nagaland), Trimbakeshwar  (Maharashtra),  Puri  (Odisha),  Amritsar  (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram  and  Vellankani (Tamil Nadu), Tripura  Sundari  (Tripura),  Varanasi  and  Mathura  (Uttar  Pradesh), Badrinath,  Kedarnath,  Gangotri  and  Yamunotri  (Uttarakhand)  and Belur (West Bengal).

The  projects  under  the  above  schemes  are  identified  for development  in  consultation  with  the  State  Governments/  Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable Detailed Project Reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier. The details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  the  above  schemes  in various states including North Eastern States and Uttar Pradesh are annexed. The projects are at various stages of implementation/completion.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*204 ANSWERED ON 08.07.2019 REGARDING RELIGIOUS TOURIST CIRCUITS.

THE DETAILS OF PROJECTS SANCTIONED UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

(Rs. in crores)

| S. No.            | State/ Sanction Year    | Project Name                                                                                                                                                                   | Amt. Sanctioned   | Amt. Released     |
|-------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| SPIRITUAL CIRCUIT | SPIRITUAL CIRCUIT       | SPIRITUAL CIRCUIT                                                                                                                                                              | SPIRITUAL CIRCUIT | SPIRITUAL CIRCUIT |
| 1.                | Kerala (2016-17)        | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli-Pampa-Sannidhanam in District Pathanamthitta                                                                                               | 99.99             | 20.00             |
| 2.                | Manipur (2016-17)       | Development of Spiritual Circuit - Shri Govindajee Temple, Shri Bijoy Govindajee Temple - Shri Gopinath Temple - Shri Bungshibodon Temple - Shri Kaina Temple                  | 53.80             | 40.14             |
| 3.                | Kerala (2016-17)        | Development of Sree Padmanabha Arnamula- Sabrimala                                                                                                                             | 92.22             | 72.42             |
| 4.                | Bihar (2016-17)         | Integrated Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar                                                                                                     | 52.35             | 26.17             |
| 5.                | Uttar Pradesh (2016-17) | Development of Shahjahanpur- Allahabad-Basti- Ahar- Aligharh-Kasgunj-Sarosi- Pratapgarh-Unnao-Kaushambi- Mirzapur-Gorakpur- Kairana- Doamriyagunj- Bagpat- Barabanki- Azamgarh | 68.39             | 54.71             |
| 6.                | Uttar Pradesh (2016-17) | Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli-         | 63.77             | 50.33             |

|    |                         | Mishrikh- Bhadohi                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |       |       |
|----|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
|  7 | Rajasthan (2016-17)     | Development of Churu (Salasar Balaji)- Jaipur (Shri Samode Balaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Alwar (Pandupole Hanumanji, Bharathari)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehandipur Balaji- Chittorgarh | 93.9  | 46.95 |
|  8 | Puducherry (2017-18)    | Development of Spiritual Circuit in Puducherry                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 40.68 | 19.26 |
|  9 | Bihar (2017-18)         | Dvelopment of Mandar Development Hill & Ang Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 53.49 | 10.7  |
| 10 | Maharashtra (2018-19)   | Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Chota Taj Bagh- Telankhandi- Girad                                                                                                                                                                                    | 54.01 |  0    |
| 11 | Uttar Pradesh (2018-19) | Development of Jewar-Dadri- Sikandrabad-Noida-Khurja- Banda                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 14.52 |  0    |
| 12 | Kerala (2018-19)        | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam                                                                                                                                           | 69.47 |  0    |
| 13 | Kerala (2018-19)        | Development of Kasaragod, Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Mallapuram, Thrichur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Allaphuza, Pathananamithitta, Kollam, Trivandrum                                                                                                       | 85.23 |  0    |
| 14 | Uttar Pradesh (2018-19) | Development of Gorakhnath Temple(Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj)                                                                                                                                                            | 21.16 |  0    |

| RAMAYANA CIRCUIT   | RAMAYANA CIRCUIT         | RAMAYANA CIRCUIT                                                                                          | RAMAYANA CIRCUIT   |                    |
|--------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| 15.                | Uttar Pradesh (2016-17)  | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur                                                                | 69.45              | 52.17              |
| 16.                | Uttar Pradesh (2017-18)  | Development of Ayodhya                                                                                    | 133.31             | 66.65              |
| KRISHNA CIRCUIT    | KRISHNA CIRCUIT          | KRISHNA CIRCUIT                                                                                           | KRISHNA CIRCUIT    | KRISHNA CIRCUIT    |
| 17.                | Haryana (2016-17)        | Development of Tourism Infrastructures at places related to Mahabharata in Kurukshetra                    | 97.35              | 70.60              |
| 18.                | Rajasthan (2016-17)      | Integrated Development of Govind Dev ji temple (Jaipur), Khatu Shyam Ji (Sikar) and Nathdwara (Rajsamand) | 91.45              | 45.72              |
| BUDDHIST CIRCUIT   | BUDDHIST CIRCUIT         | BUDDHIST CIRCUIT                                                                                          | BUDDHIST CIRCUIT   | BUDDHIST CIRCUIT   |
| 19.                | Madhya Pradesh (2016-17) | Development of Sanchi-Satna- Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar                                                           | 74.94              | 54.51              |
| 20.                | Uttar Pradesh (2016-17)  | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar & Kapilvastu                                                          | 99.97              | 45.03              |
| 21.                | Bihar (2016-17)          | Construction of Convention Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya                | 98.73              | 19.75              |
| 22.                | Gujarat (2017-18)        | Development of Junagadh- Gir- Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana                          | 35.99              | 7.20               |
| 23.                | Andhra Pradesh (2017-18) | Development of Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh       | 52.34              | 10.47              |
| TIRTHANKAR CIRCUIT | TIRTHANKAR CIRCUIT       | TIRTHANKAR CIRCUIT                                                                                        | TIRTHANKAR CIRCUIT | TIRTHANKAR CIRCUIT |
| 24.                | Bihar (2016-17)          | Development of Jain Circuit: Vaishali-Arrah-Masad-Patna- Rajgir-Pawapuri-Champapuri                       | 52.39              | 26.19              |

## THE DETAILS OF PROJECTS SANCTIONED UNDER PRASHAD SCHEME (Rs. in crores)

| Sl. No.      | State           | Name of the Project                                                                                                 | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released   |
|--------------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| Year 2014-15 | Year 2014-15    | Year 2014-15                                                                                                        | Year 2014-15        | Year 2014-15      |
| 1            | Bihar           | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar                                                    | 4.27                | 2.91              |
| 2            | Odisha          | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham- Ramachandi-Prachi River front at Deuli under Mega Circuit | 50.00               | 10.00             |
| 3            | Uttar Pradesh   | Development of Mathura- Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                                                   | 14.93               | 10.38             |
| 4            | Uttar Pradesh   | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan, Distt. Mathura                                            | 9.36                | 7.36              |
| Year 2015-16 | Year 2015-16    | Year 2015-16                                                                                                        | Year 2015-16        | Year 2015-16      |
| 5            | Andhra Pradesh  | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination                                             | 28.36               | 22.69             |
| 6            | Assam           | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati                                    | 30.71               | 22.03             |
| 7            | Bihar           | Development at Patna Sahib                                                                                          | 41.54               | 33.23             |
| 8            | Punjab          | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                                               | 6.40                | 6.40              |
| 9            | Rajasthan       | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                                             | 40.44               | 19.41             |
| 10           | Uttarakhand     | Integrated Development of Kedarnath                                                                                 | 34.78               | 27.83             |
| 11           | Uttar Pradesh   | Development of Varanasi                                                                                             | 20.40               | 16.32             |
| Year 2016-17 | Year 2016-17    | Year 2016-17                                                                                                        | Year 2016-17        | Year 2016-17      |
| 12           | Gujarat         | Development of Dwarka                                                                                               | 26.23               | 6.85              |
| 13           | Gujarat         | Pilgrimage amenities at Somnath                                                                                     | 37.44               | 26.51             |
| 14           | Jammu & Kashmir | Development at Hazratbal,                                                                                           | 42.02               | 25.45             |

| 15           | Kerala         | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                              | 46.14        | 36.91        |
|--------------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|
| 16           | Tamilnadu      | Development of Kanchipuram                                                                   | 16.48        | 8.24         |
| 17           | Tamilnadu      | Development of Vellankani                                                                    | 5.60         | 2.59         |
| 18           | West Bengal    | Development of Belur                                                                         | 30.03        | 23.39        |
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18   | Year 2017-18                                                                                 | Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18 |
| 19           | Madhya Pradesh | Development of Omkareshwar                                                                   | 40.67        | 18.76        |
| 20           | Uttar Pradesh  | Cruise Tourism in River Ganga, Varanasi                                                      | 10.72        | 5.14         |
| 21.          | Maharashtra    | Development of Trimbakeshwar                                                                 | 37.81        | 8.49         |
| 22           | Uttar Pradesh  | Development of Varanasi Under Prashad Scheme - II                                            | 44.60        | 10.21        |
| 23           | Andhra Pradesh | Development of Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh under PRASHAD scheme                       | 47.45        | 37.96        |
| Year 2018-19 | Year 2018-19   | Year 2018-19                                                                                 | Year 2018-19 | Year 2018-19 |
| 24           | Uttarakhand    | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham (Uttarakhand) | 39.24        | 11.77        |
| 25           | Gujarat        | Development of Promenade at Somnath,                                                         | 44.59        | 13.77        |
| 26           | Uttar Pradesh  | Development of Govardhan, Mathura                                                            | 39.74        | 0.0          |
| 27           | Jharkhand      | Development of Baidyanathji Dham, Deoghar                                                    | 39.13        | 0.0          |
| 28           | Nagaland       | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities in Nagaland                                             | 25.26        | 0.0          |
| Total        | Total          | Total                                                                                        | 854.34       | 414.60       |

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