Lok Sabha Question No. 351 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Promotion of Tourism in Border Areas
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*351 ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN BORDER AREAS

- †*351 SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  scheme  formulated  by  the  Government  to  promote  tourism  in border areas;
- (b) the number border areas in the country which have been developed for tourism during the last three years; and
- (c) the  plan  to  connect  the  villages  near  border  areas  on  the  tourist map?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ******

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. †*351 ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN BORDER AREAS

(a) to (c): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  tourism  in  the  country, including  in  the  border  areas,  through  its  various  Schemes.  It  provides financial  assistance  for  development  of  tourism  infrastructure  in  the country,  including  in  the  Border  States  under  its  major  Schemes  of Swadesh Darshan and National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) to State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies. The financial assistance  is  given  on  the  basis  of  submission  of  Detailed  Project Reports,  availability  of  funds  and  adherence  to  Scheme  Guidelines. Further, the Ministry in association with the Ministry of Civil Aviation also provides  financial  assistance  for  the  development  of  identified  tourism routes  under  RCS  UDAN  3.    The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  by Ministry of Tourism, under the above Schemes, in the Border States, are given in the Annexure I.

Besides  Ministry  of  Tourism  have  also  undertaken  initiatives  to address challenges of border districts, tourism development, Institutional environment  and  security  barriers     in  close  coordination with State Tourism Departments and other stakeholders. Further, Ministry also promotes India in a holistic manner through various initiatives under its  Schemes  of  'Domestic  Promotion  &  Publicity  including  Hospitality' (DPPH) and 'Overseas Promotion & Publicity including Market Development Assistance (OPMD)', including in the border States.  As part of its on-going activities; it regularly releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns  in the international markets, under the 'Incredible India' brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of India with the objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals to the Country.  The Ministry of Tourism also regularly promotes various tourism destinations and products through its website and social media promotions.

In  addition,  a  series  of  promotional  activities  are  undertaken  in important and potential tourist generating markets overseas through the

India  Tourism  Offices  abroad  with  the  objective  of  showcasing  India's tourism potential and promoting tourism to the Country. These promotional activities include participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organizing  Road  shows,  'Know  India'  seminars  &workshops;  organizing and  supporting  Indian  food  festivals;  publication  of  brochures,  offering joint advertising and brochure support, and inviting media personalities, tour  operators  and  opinion  makers  to  visit  the  Country  under  the Hospitality programme of the Ministry. Some of the major initiatives and efforts  of  Ministry  of  Tourism  for  promotion  of  tourism  in  the  border States are given below:-

- i An  amount  of  Rs.  1312  lakh  was  sanctioned  to  Border  Security Force  for  the  tourism  related  Infrastructural  Development  at  Joint Check Post, Attari, Punjab.
- ii An amount of Rs. 2803.05 lakh was sanctioned to Inland Waterways Authority  of  India  (IWAI)  for  the  construction  of  Jetties  at  9  main points  of  embarkation/  disembarkation  of  River  Cruise  on  National Waterways No 1 and 2 including Assam (Neamati, Pandu, Jogighopa and Biswanath Ghat).
- iii In a separate initiative taken in coordination with PHDCCI, webinars have  been  organized  highlighting  the  need  to  promote  tourism education among the locals as well as related stakeholders in the respective border areas of the country.
- iv Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM), Gulmarg under Ministry  of  Tourism  has  organized  the  Ice  Skating  event  and National Level Ice Hockey Championship at Drass, Kargil in January 2021.
- v Road connectivity and way side amenities -   Ministry of Tourism had shared a list of 50 Tourism Destinations including Iconic Sites and UNESCO  World  Heritage  Sites  with  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  & Highways for improving road connectivity in the first phase. Where good road connectivity already exists, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways was requested to consider setting up of wayside amenities, prominent signages and beautification of the area, at a distance  of  15-20  kms.  on  either  side  of  the  tourist  destination. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has informed that out of the 50 destinations identified by Ministry of Tourism, 23 fall under the purview of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways/National Highway

Authority of India, where work is in progress, three (03) fall under the Boarder Road Organisation (BRO).

1.      Pangong Lake, Ladakh
2.      Kargil, Ladakh
3.      Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

vi A  study  has  also  been  conducted  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  on Potentials of Tourism Development in Pithoragarh District, Uttarakhand.

In addition to the above  initiatives of Ministry of  Tourism  for promotion of tourism, in the border States, Ministry of External Affairs has intimated about other promotional efforts undertaken, inter-alia, which are given in Annexure- II.

******

ANNEXURE- I

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. †*351 ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022 PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN BORDER AREAS

Details of the Projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in the Border States under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

(Rs. in crore)

|   Sl No. | State/UT          | Circuit             | Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                            |   Amount Sanctioned |
|----------|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Arunachal Pradesh | North- East Circuit | 2014- 15        | Development of Mega Circuit at Bhalukpong- Bomdila and Tawang                                  |               49.77 |
|        2 | Arunachal Pradesh | North East Circuit  | 2015- 16        | Development of Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha |               96.72 |
|        3 | Assam             | Wildlife Circuit    | 2015- 16        | Development of Manas- Probitora- Nameri- Kaziranga- Dibru- Saikhowa                            |               94.68 |
|        4 | Assam             | Heritage Circuit    | 2016- 17        | Development of Tezpur - Majuli - Sibsagar                                                      |               90.98 |
|        5 | Bihar             | Tirthank ar circuit | 2016- 17        | Development of Vaishali- Arrah- Masad- Patna- Rajgir- Pawapuri- Champapuri                     |               37.19 |
|        6 | Bihar             | Spiritual circuit   | 2016- 17        | Integrated Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar                     |               44.76 |
|        7 | Bihar             | Buddhis t Circuit   | 2016- 17        | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya                 |               98.73 |
|        8 | Bihar             | Rural Circuit       | 2017- 18        | Development of Gandhi Circuit: Bhitiharwa- Chandrahia- Turkaulia                               |               44.65 |
|        9 | Bihar             | Spiritual           | 2017-           | Development of Mandar Hill                                                                     |               47.53 |

|    |                  | Circuit            | 18       | & Ang Pradesh                                                                                                                                   |       |
|----|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
| 10 | Gujarat          | Heritage Circuit   | 2016-17  | Development of Ahmedabad- Rajkot- Porbandar -Bardoli- Dandi                                                                                     | 58.42 |
| 11 | Gujarat          | Heritage Circuit   | 2016-17  | Development of Vadnagar- Modhera                                                                                                                | 91.11 |
| 12 | Gujarat          | Buddhist circuit   | 2017-18  | Development of Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana                                                                 | 26.68 |
| 13 | Himachal Pradesh | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Himalayan Circuit in Himachal Pradesh                                                                                 | 80.69 |
| 14 | Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Jammu-Srinagar-Pehalgam- Bhagwati Nagar-Anantnag- Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh                                            | 77.33 |
| 15 | Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities at Jammu- Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama.                                                                 | 84.46 |
| 16 | Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities - Construction of Assets in lieu of those Destroyed in Floods in 2014 under PM Development Package | 90.43 |
| 17 | Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev                                                                        | 90.85 |
| 18 | Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Tourist facilities at Anantnag-Kishwar-Pahalgam- Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam                                              | 87.44 |
| 19 | Jammu & Kashmir  | Himalay an Circuit | 2016- 17 | Development of Tourist Facilities at Gulmarg- Baramulla- Kupwara- Kargil - Leh                                                                  | 91.84 |
| 20 | Manipur          | North- East        | 2015- 16 | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal-                                                                                              | 72.23 |

|    |            | Circuit            |          | Khongjom                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |       |
|----|------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
| 21 | Manipur    | Spiritual Circuit  | 2016- 17 | Development of Shri Govindajee Temple, Shri Bijoy Govindajee Temple - Shri Gopinath Temple - Shri Bungshibodon Temple - Shri Kaina Temple                                                                                     | 53.8  |
| 22 | Meghalay a | North East Circuit | 2016- 17 | Development of Umium (Lake View), U Lum Sohpetbneng- Mawdiangdiang - Orchid Lake Resort                                                                                                                                       | 99.13 |
| 23 | Meghalaya  | North East Circuit | 2018- 19 | Development of West Khasi Hills (Nongkhlaw- KremTirot - Khudoi&Kohmang Falls - Khri River- Mawthadraishan, Shillong), Jaintia Hills (Krang Suri Falls- Shyrmang- Iooksi), Garo Hills (Nokrek Reserve, Katta Beel, Siju Caves) | 84.97 |
| 24 | Mizoram    | North East Circuit | 2015- 16 | Integrated Development of Thenzawl & South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek.                                                                                                                                                 | 92.26 |
| 25 | Mizoram    | Eco Circuit        | 2016- 17 | Development of Eco- Adventure Circuit Aizawl - Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Durtlang - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang - Muthee - Beratlawng -Tuirial                                                                   | 66.37 |
| 26 | Nagaland   | Tribal Circuit     | 2015- 16 | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha                                                                                                                                                                            | 97.36 |
| 27 | Nagaland   | Tribal circuit     | 2016- 17 | Development of Mokokchung-Tuensang-Mon                                                                                                                                                                                        | 98.14 |
| 28 | Punjab     | Heritage Circuit   | 2018- 19 | Development of Anandpur Sahib - Fatehgarh Sahib -                                                                                                                                                                             | 91.55 |

|    |           |                   |          | Chamkaur Sahib - Ferozpur - Amritsar - Khatkar Kalan - Kalanour - Patiala                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |       |
|----|-----------|-------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
| 29 | Rajasthan | Desert Circuit    | 2015- 16 | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 50.01 |
| 30 | Rajasthan | Krishna Circuit   | 2016- 17 | Integrated Development of Govind Dev ji temple (Jaipur), Khatu Shyam Ji (Sikar) and Nathdwara (Rajsamand)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 75.8  |
| 31 | Rajasthan | Spiritual Circuit | 2016- 17 | Development of Churu (Salasar Balaji)- Jaipur (Shri Samode Balaji, Ghat ke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Alwar (PandupoleHanumanji, Bharathari)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehandipur Balaji-                                                                                                                                                                          | 93.9  |
| 32 | Rajasthan | Heritage Circuit  | 2017- 18 | Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji) Development of Rajsamand (Kumbhalgarh Fort)- Jaipur (Nahargarh Fort)- Alwar (BalaQuila)- Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore Fort and Khandar Fort)- Jhalawar (Gagron Fort)- Chittorgarh (Chittorgarh Fort) Jaisalmer (JaisalmerFort) Hanumangarh (Kalibangan, Bhatner Fort and Gogamedi)- Jalore (Jalore Fort)- Udaipur (Pratap Gaurav Kendra)- Dholpur (Bagh-i-Nilofar and PuraniChawni)- Nagaur(Meera Bai Smarak) | 72.49 |
| 33 | Sikkim    | North East        | 2015- 16 | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo (entry)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 98.05 |

|    |               | Circuit            |          | - Rorathang- Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang- Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok-Phodong- Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu-Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok- TuminLingee- Singtam (exit)   |       |
|----|---------------|--------------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
| 34 | Sikkim        | North East Circuit | 2016- 17 | Development of Tourist Circuit Linking Singtam- Maka- Temi-BermoikTokel- Phongia- Namchi -Jorthang- Okharey- Sombaria- Daramdin- Jorethang- Melli (Exit)                             | 95.32 |
| 35 | Tripura       | North East Circuit | 2015- 16 | Development of North East Circuit: Agartala - Sipahijala - Melaghar - Udaipur - Amarpur- Tirthamukh- Mandirghat- Dumboor- NarikelKunja- Gandachara- Ambassa                          | 82.85 |
| 36 | Tripura       | North East circuit | 2018- 19 | Development of Surma Cherra- Unakoti- Jampui Hills- Gunabati- Bhunaneshwari- Matabari- Neermahal- Boxanagar- Chottakhola- Pilak-                                                     | 65    |
| 37 | Uttar Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit   | 2016- 17 | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilwastu                                                                                                                                    | 99.97 |
| 38 | Uttar Pradesh | Ramaya na Circuit  | 2016- 17 | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur                                                                                                                                           | 69.45 |
| 39 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit  | 2016- 17 | Development of Shahjahanpur-Basti- Ahar- Aligharh-Kasgunj-Sarosi- Pratapgarh-Unnao-                                                                                                  | 71.91 |

|    |               |                   |          | Kaushambi- Mirzapur- Gorakpur- Kairana- DoamrFiyagunj- Bagpat- Barabanki- Azamgarh                                                                                                       |        |
|----|---------------|-------------------|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| 40 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit | 2016- 17 | Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi |  67.51 |
| 41 | Uttar Pradesh | Heritage Circuit  | 2016- 17 | Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- MarharDham (Sant Kabir Nagar)- ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- Mavahar Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)                              |  33.97 |
| 42 | Uttar Pradesh | Ramaya na Circuit | 2017- 18 | Development of Ayodhya                                                                                                                                                                   | 127.21 |
| 43 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit | 2018- 19 | Development of Jewar-Dadri- Sikandrabad-Noida-Khurja- Banda                                                                                                                              |  12.03 |
| 44 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit | 2018- 19 | Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj)                                                                          |  15.76 |
| 45 | Uttarakhand   | Eco Circuit       | 2015- 16 | Integrated Development of Eco-Tourism, Adventure Sports, Associated Tourism related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings                                          |  69.17 |
| 46 | Uttarakhand   | Heritage circuit  | 2016- 17 | Development of Heritage Circuit in Kumaon Region - Katarmal -Jogeshwar-                                                                                                                  |  76.32 |

|    |                         |                    |          | Baijnath-Devidhura                                                                                                                                                                    |       |
|----|-------------------------|--------------------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
| 47 | West Bengal             | Coastal Circuit    | 2015- 16 | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhlai- Henry Island                                                                      | 67.99 |
| 48 | Uttar Pradesh and Bihar | Wayside Ameniti es | 2018- 19 | Development of Wayside Amenities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at Varanasi-Gaya; Lucknow-Ayodhya- Lucknow; Gorakhpur-Kushinagar; Kushinagar-Gaya- Kushinagar in collaboration with MoRTH | 15.07 |

Details of the Projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in the Border States under the PRASHAD Scheme:

(Rs. in crore)

| Sl. No.   | State/UTs         |   Project Nos | Name of the Project                                                              | Year of Sanction   |   Amount Sanctioned |
|-----------|-------------------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
| 1         | ARUNACHAL PRADESH |             1 | Development of Parasuram Kund, Lohit Distt.                                      | 2020-21            |               37.88 |
| 2         | ASSAM             |             2 | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati | 2015-16            |               29.8  |
| 3         | BIHAR             |             3 | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar                 | 2014-15            |                4.27 |
|           |                   |             4 | Development at Patna Sahib                                                       | 2015-16            |               41.54 |
| 4         | GUJARAT           |             5 | Development of Dwarka                                                            | 2016-17            |               13.08 |
|           |                   |             6 | Pilgrimage Amenities at                                                          | 2016-17            |               45.36 |

|    |                 |    | Somnath                                                                       |         |       |
|----|-----------------|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|
|    |                 |  7 | Development of Promenade at Somnath under PRASHAD Scheme                      | 2018-19 | 47.12 |
|    |                 |  8 | Development of Pilgrim Plaza with Queue Management Complex at Somnath Gujarat | 2021-22 | 49.97 |
| 5  | JAMMU & KASHMIR |  9 | Development at Hazratbal,                                                     | 2016-17 | 40.46 |
| 6  | MEGHALAYA       | 10 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation in                                     | 2020-21 | 29.32 |
| 7  | NAGALAND        | 11 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure in Nagaland                          | 2018-19 | 25.26 |
| 8  | PUNJAB          | 12 | Development of KarunaSagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                          | 2015-16 |  6.4  |
|    |                 | 13 | Development of Chamkaur Sahib at Rupar, Punjab under PRASHAD Scheme           | 2021-22 | 31.57 |
| 9  | RAJASTHAN       | 14 | Integrated Development of Pushkar / Ajmer                                     | 2015-16 | 32.64 |
| 10 | SIKKIM          | 15 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom          | 2020-21 | 33.32 |
| 11 | TRIPURA         | 16 | Development of Tripura Sundari                                                | 2020-21 | 37.84 |

|    |               |    | Temple, Udaipur                                                                                                             |         |       |
|----|---------------|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|
| 12 | UTTARAKHAND   | 18 | Kedarnath Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham (Uttarakhand) under PRASHAD Scheme | 2018-19 | 39.24 |
|    |               | 19 | Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities and Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham in Uttarakhand under                   | 2021-22 | 54.36 |
| 13 | UTTAR PRADESH | 20 | Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                                                            | 2014-15 | 14.93 |
| 13 | UTTAR PRADESH | 21 | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan, Distt. Mathura                                                    | 2014-15 |  9.36 |
| 13 | UTTAR PRADESH | 22 | Development of Varanasi -Phase -I                                                                                           | 2015-16 | 20.4  |
| 13 | UTTAR PRADESH | 23 | Cruise Tourism in River Ganga, Varanasi                                                                                     | 2017-18 | 10.72 |
| 13 | UTTAR PRADESH | 24 | Development of Varanasi Under Prashad Scheme - Phase II                                                                     | 2017-18 | 44.6  |
| 13 | UTTAR PRADESH | 25 | Development of Infrastructure                                                                                               | 2018-19 | 39.74 |

|    |             |    | facilities at Govardhan, Mathura, UP   |         |       |
|----|-------------|----|----------------------------------------|---------|-------|
| 14 | WEST BENGAL | 26 | Development of Belur                   | 2016-17 | 30.03 |

List of Projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism to Central Agencies under Assistance to Central Agencies Scheme (Rs. in Lakh)

| Year     | State                                                                                                                                               | Name of the Projects                                                                                                                  | Agencies   |   Sanction Amount |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-------------------|
| 2017- 18 | Punjab                                                                                                                                              | Project for Infrastructural Development at JCP Attari                                                                                 | BSF        |           1312    |
| 2019- 20 | Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi & Allahabad-I, Allahabad-II ), Bihar (Bhagalpur), West Bengal (Kolkata) & Assam (Neamati, Pandu, Jogighopa & Biswanathghat) | CFA for Development of Jetties at nine (09) main points of embarkation/disembarkation of River Cruise on National Water ways No. 1& 2 | IWAI       |           2803.05 |
| 2020- 21 | Mizoram                                                                                                                                             | Development of Convention Centre and associated Infrastructure at Aizawl, Mizoram                                                     | WAPCOS     |           3994.75 |

**********

## ANNEXURE- II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. †*351 ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022 PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN BORDER AREAS

OTHER PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, TO SUPPLEMENT THE INITIATIVES OF MINISTRY OF TOURISM

-  An international Buyer-Seller Meet, involving the Indian Chamber of Commerce  Guwahati  was  organized  in March  2021,  which  also included the Tourism Sector.
-  Ministry of Civil Aviation, under UDAN, is working for operating flights between North-Eastern States and Mandalay and Yangon.
-  Daily  flight  from September  2019 between  Kolkata  and  Yangon  has improved air connectivity.
-  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  is  currently  undertaking  development projects  to  increase  road  connectivity  between  Myanmar  and  the North  Eastern  States  of  Manipur  and  Mizoram  namely,  the  India Myanmar Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Road project.
-  Currently two passenger train services are operating  between Bangladesh and India. Mitali express from Dhaka-Siliguri was inaugurated during the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister Modi to Dhaka in March 2021.
-  Government  had  declubbed  visa  regime  for  Bangladeshis  (from Pakistanis) facilitating inbound tourism.
-  The  Bangladesh,  Bhutan,  India  and  Nepal  (BBIN)  Motor  Vehicle Agreement  (MVA)  once  operationalised will facilitate seamless connectivity with Bangladesh.
-  Maitree  bridge  over  river  Feni  connecting  Sabroom  (Tripura)  with Ramgarh (Bangladesh), inaugurated in 2021, of 1.9 km length built at a  cost  of  133  crores  rupees  on  Feni  River  connects  Tripura  and Bangladesh.
-  There  are  3  operational  bus  routes  connecting  North  East  Region with  Bangladesh,  passing  through  Shillong,  Guwahati  and  Agartala. (Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati, Dhaka-Agartala, Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala).
-  With  the  inclusion  of  Sonamura-Daudkandi  route  in  2020,  there  are now 10 approved inland waterway routes between India and Bangladesh for movement of tourists.
-  Border infrastructure such as Integrated Check Posts (ICP) and Land Immigration  Check  Posts  (ImCPs)  facilitate  movement  of  people across  border.  There  are  2  fully  functional  ICPs  and  24  LCSs currently operational in the India-Bangladesh border.
-  Currently,  seven  Border  Haats  along  the  India  Bangladesh  border, two  in  Tripura  and  five  in  Meghalaya  are  operational.  Three  have been  made  operational  recently  at  Nalikata  (India)  -  Saydabad (Bangladesh);  Ryngku  (India)  -  Bagan  Bari  (Bangladesh)  and  Bhola Ganj.
-  To  improve  connectivity, to promote  inbound  tourism,  rail  link between  Agartala  (Tripura)  and  Akhaura  (Bangladesh) is being developed.
-  The  Indo-Myanmar-Thailand  Trilateral  Highway,  linking  Moreh  in Manipur  to  Mae  Sot  in  Thailand,  running  through  the  length  of Myanmar  to  enable  seamless  flow  of  inbound  tourism  is  being developed.
-  Free  Movement  Regime  within  16  kms  of  border  is  facilitated,  to enable people from neighbouring countries to enhance ease of visit and shop in India, with due safeguards within the parameters of the Restricted Area Permit.
-  Resident  Ambassadors  of  neighbouring  countries  were  taken  to festivals  in  border  areas  like  Nagaland  to  showcase  the  ethnic affinity and rich cultural heritage of the North-East.
-  In December 2019, a Legislative delegation from Sagaing and Mandalay visited Imphal, where they met with local tourism agencies and exchanged ideas on promoting tourism.
-  Indian  Chamber of  International  Business  (lClB)  in  association  with Mission and India-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce organized virtual trade,  tourism  and  investment  related  event  titled  'Look  East  Act East  -  Opportunities  in  North  East  India  and  neighbours,  Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh" on 21 January 2021.
- *********