Lok Sabha Question No. 3159 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Tourist Destinations Selected through Challenge Mode in Kerala
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3159 ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## TOURIST DESTINATIONS SELECTED THROUGH CHALLENGE MODE IN KERALA

3159. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  list  of  tourism  projects  being  implemented  with  central assistance in the State of Kerala including those in Alappuzha and Kollam districts;
- (b) whether the Government has finalized the list of fifty tourism destinations  to  be  developed  through  challenge  mode  as announced  in  the  Union  Budget  for  2023-24  and  if  so,  the details thereof including the State and UT-wise sites;
- (c) whether the Government intends to include Pathiramanal Eco Tourism project in the list of fifty  tourism  destinations  to  be developed through challenge mode;
- (d) whether  the  Government  will  consider  providing  financial assistance to State of Kerala for developing Alappuzha Marina cum Port project which aims to enhance the tourism prospects of Alappuzha district; and
- (e)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): Development and promotion of tourist places is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  provided financial assistance under the 'Swadesh Darshan', 'National Mission on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Deve lopment' Schemes for the development of tourism related infrastructure in the State of Kerala.

The  details of the projects  sanctioned  under  the  above mentioned  schemes  in  the  State  of  Kerala  is  given  at  Annexure. However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  not  sanctioned  any  project under  the  above  mentioned  schemes  in  Alappuzha  and  Kollam

Districts of Kerala. (b) & (c): Ministry  of  Tourism  organized  Post  Budget  Webinar  on 3rd March, 2023 on 'Developing Tourism in Mission Mode' with the objective to seek fruitful inputs of stakeholder for implementation of budget  announcements.  In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has initiated process to work out the modalities in this context. (d) & (e): Proposals  are  received  from  State  Governments/Union Territory  Administrations  from  time  to  time  for  seeking  financial assistance  under  the  above  schemes  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism. These proposals are examined in context of the scheme guidelines and financial assistance is extended for projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated provisions and availability of funds.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.3159  ANSWERED  ON  20.03.2023  REGARDING  TOURIST DESTINATIONS SELECTED THROUGH CHALLENGE MODE IN KERALA.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | State   | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                             |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|-----------|---------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Kerala  | Eco Circuit 2015-16       | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                          |               64.08 |             64.08 |
|         2 | Kerala  | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Sabarimala -Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                           |               54.88 |             27.44 |
|         3 | Kerala  | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Sree Padmanabha Arnamula                                                                                         |               78.08 |             73.77 |
|         4 | Kerala  | Rural Circuit 2018-19     | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           |               57.35 |             23.77 |
|         5 | Kerala  | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19 | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam |               66.43 |             15.57 |

PRASHAD Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | State   | Name of the Project             | Year of Sanction   |   Approved Cost |   Amount Released |
|-----------|---------|---------------------------------|--------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Kerala  | Development at Guruvayur Temple | 2016-17            |           45.19 |             45.19 |

## Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure  Development Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.      | State        | Name of Project                                                                                              | Central Agency           | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released   |
|--------------|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| Year 2013-14 | Year 2013-14 | Year 2013-14                                                                                                 | Year 2013-14             | Year 2013-14        | Year 2013-14      |
| 1.           | Kerala       | Joint Development of Tourist amenities at Trivandrum Railway Station in Association with Ministry of Railway | M/o Railways             | 5.98                | 4.00              |
| Year 2016-17 | Year 2016-17 | Year 2016-17                                                                                                 | Year 2016-17             | Year 2016-17        | Year 2016-17      |
| 2.           | Kerala       | Development of a Walkway/Promenade on Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala                                      | Cochin Port Trust        | 9.01                | 8.27              |
| 3.           | Kerala       | Central Financial Assistance for upgrading of Berths & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf                        | Cochin Port Trust        | 21.41               | 19.13             |
| 4.           | Kerala       | Project for Up-gradation of Golf Course at SAI Trivandrum Golf Club by the Sports Authority of India         | Sport Authority of India | 24.65               | 12.32             |
| Year 2018-19 | Year 2018-19 | Year 2018-19                                                                                                 | Year 2018-19             | Year 2018-19        | Year 2018-19      |
| 5.           | Kerala       | Developing infrastructure at Cochin Port Cruise Terminal                                                     | Cochin Port Trust        | 1.21                | 1.14              |
| 6.           | Kerala       | Creation of additional tourism facilities at the Cochin Port Trust Walkway                                   | Cochin Port Trust        | 4.66                | 4.66              |
| Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20                                                                                                 | Year 2019-20             | Year 2019-20        | Year 2019-20      |
| 7.           | Kerala       | CFA for Development of Additional infrastructure in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal                       | Cochin Port Trust        | 10.30               | 8.23              |

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