Lok Sabha Question No. 1205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Measures to Improve Maintenance of Tourist Infrastructure and Amenities at Heritage Sites
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1205

## ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021

MEASURES TO IMPROVE MAINTENANCE OF TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE AND AMENITIES AT HERITAGE SITES

1205.SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will   the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of organisations which are a partner in implementing  in  the  programme  'Adopt  a  Heritage:  Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan';
- (b) the  reasons  why  the  Government  is  not  able  to  successfully add   more partners and heritage places under the said programme;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  other  measures  to improve the maintenance of tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/State  heritage  sites  and  other  important tourist sites in India;  and
- (d)

## MINISTER OF TOURISM

- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) to (b): Under the project of Adopt a Heritage, 29 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been awarded to 15 Monument Mitras for twenty-seven (27) sites and two (2) Technological  interventions  across  India.  The  list  of  MoUs  signed under  Adopt  a  Heritage  Project  along  with  respective  Monument Mitras is at Annexure-I.
- (c) to (d): Maintenance  of  tourist  infrastructure  and  amenities  at ASI/State heritage sites is the responsibility of ASI/State Archaeology Department and State Government. However, Ministry of  Tourism  under  various  schemes  creates  and  maintains  tourist infrastructure and amenities at important tourist sites. The details are given in Annexure-II.

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## ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1205 ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021 REGARDING MEASURES TO IMPROVE MAINTENANCE OF TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE AND AMENITIES AT HERITAGE SITES

List of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU's) Awarded under Adopt a Heritage Project

|   S. No | Name of Site                                                              | State/ UT                                                                                                                                                   | Name of Agency (Monument Mitra)                            |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Gangotri Temple Area & Trail to Gaumukh                                   | Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                                 | Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)      |
|       2 | Red Fort                                                                  | Delhi                                                                                                                                                       | Dalmia Bharat Ltd.                                         |
|       3 | Gandikota Fort                                                            | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                              | Dalmia Bharat Ltd.                                         |
|       4 | Surajkund                                                                 | Haryana                                                                                                                                                     | Bliss Inn (India) Pvt. Ltd. (V-Resorts)                    |
|       5 | JantarMantar                                                              | Delhi                                                                                                                                                       | Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels (P) Ltd.                     |
|       6 | Ajanta Caves                                                              | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                 | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                     |
|       7 | Qutub Minar                                                               | Delhi                                                                                                                                                       | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                     |
|       8 | Hampi &Hazara Rama Temple                                                 | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                   | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                     |
|       9 | Leh Palace                                                                | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                                                             | Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd.                                     |
|      10 | Development of Multi-Lingual Audio Guide for Iconic Sites                 | i. Amer Fort, Rajasthan ii. Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar iii. ChandniChowk, Delhi iv. Somnath, Gujarat                                                           | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Lt d. (Bird Heritage Foundation) |
|      11 | Development of Multi-Lingual Audio Guide for Iconic Sites (ASI Monuments) | i. Dholavira, Gujarat ii. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi iii. Red Fort, Delhi iv. Purana Quila Del hi v. FatehpurSikri, Agra vi. Taj Mahal, Agra vii. Mahabalipuram, | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Lt d. (Bird Heritage Foundation) |

|    |                                          | Tamil Nadu viii. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh   |                                                                                   |
|----|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12 | Abdur Rahim Khan - i-Khana               | Delhi                                        | Interglobe Foundation                                                             |
| 13 | Bekal Fort                               | Kerala                                       | Drishti Lifesaving Pvt. Ltd.                                                      |
| 14 | Champaner- Pavagadh Archaeol ogical Park | Gujarat                                      | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                                          |
| 15 | Rani ki Vav, Patan                       | Gujarat                                      | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                                          |
| 16 | Sun Temple, Modhera                      | Gujarat                                      | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                                          |
| 17 | Buddhist Caves, Uparkot, Junagadh        | Gujarat                                      | Akshar Travels Pvt. Ltd.                                                          |
| 18 | Gol Gumbad                               | Delhi                                        | Resbird Technologies Pvt. Lt d. (Bird Heritage Foundation)                        |
| 19 | Aguada Fort                              | Goa                                          | Drishti Lifesaving Pvt. Ltd.                                                      |
| 20 | Krishna Temple, Hampi                    | Karnataka                                    | Heritage Resorts, Hampi (A unit of Indo Asia Leisure Services Ltd.)               |
| 21 | Elephanta Stables, Hampi                 | Karnataka                                    | Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd.                                               |
| 22 | Pattabhirama Temple , Hampi              | Karnataka                                    | Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd.                                               |
| 23 | Zenana Enslosure (Lotus Mahal), Hampi    | Karnataka                                    | Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd.                                               |
| 24 | Ugra Narsimha Temple, Hampi              | Karnataka                                    | Hotel Malligi Pvt. Ltd.                                                           |
| 25 | Badavilinga Temple, Hampi                | Karnataka                                    | Hotel Malligi Pvt. Ltd.                                                           |
| 26 | Bara Lao ka Gumbad                       | Delhi                                        | Bird Heritage Foundation                                                          |
| 27 | Mandore Fort                             | Rajasthan                                    | Mehrangarh Museum Trust                                                           |
| 28 | Dara Shikoh Library Building             | Delhi                                        | The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT) and Museum & Arts Consultancy (MAC) |
| 29 | Narayankoti Temple                       | Uttarakhand                                  | Socio Legal Research and Education Foundation                                     |

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ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  TO  (d)  OF LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1205 ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021 REGARDING MEASURES TO IMPROVE MAINTENANCE OF TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE AND AMENITIES AT HERITAGE SITES

## 1. Assistance to Central Agencies for tourism infrastructure development

To  provide  financial  assistance  to  various  central  agencies  like Archaeological  Survey  of  India,  Port Trust of India,  ITDC,  M/o Railways etc. for development of places of tourist interest, illumination and preservation of monuments, development of cruise terminals etc. and to provide all infrastructure facilities required by the tourists.

(Rs. in crore)

| Sr. No.   | Year    |   No. of Projects |   Amount sanctioned |   Amount released |
|-----------|---------|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| 1         | 2014-15 |                 3 |               21.67 |             17.69 |
| 2         | 2016-17 |                 4 |               70.07 |             54.71 |
| 3         | 2017-18 |                 6 |               55.68 |             38.53 |
| 5         | 2018-19 |                 5 |               80.55 |             52.5  |
| 6         | 2019-20 |                 4 |               85.85 |             35.91 |
| 7         | 2020-21 |                 4 |               92.49 |             34.03 |
| 8         | 2021-22 |                 1 |               50    |             25    |
|           | Total   |                23 |              456.31 |            258.37 |

## 2. DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE

Augmentation of infrastructure is the key to the expansion of tourism sector. The major  portion of the Ministry's expenditure goes into the development of quality infrastructure relating to tourism at various tourist  destinations  and  circuits  spread  around  the  States/UTs.  At present the following Schemes, for Tourism Infrastructure creation are operative in the Ministry of Tourism:

2.1 SWADESH DARSHAN Scheme - Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits  around Specific Themes

The Ministry of Tourism launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme in the year 2014-15 under which financial assistance is provided to the State/UT Administrations for development of Tourism Infrastructure projects in consultation with them. Since its inception till 2018-19 a total number of 76 projects have been sanctioned in the country for revised  sanction  amount  of Rs.  5524.82 crore.  The  projects  under this scheme  are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission  of  suitable  Detailed  Project  Reports,  adherence  to scheme  guidelines  and  utilization  of  funds  released  earlier  etc. Sanctioning  of  projects  under  these  schemes  is  a  continuous process. 2.2  The 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Augmentation Drive' (PRASAD) has been launched by the Ministry of Tourism  with  the  objective  of  holistic  development  of  identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations. The scheme aimed 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.  In addition,  Shoreline  development  &  rejuvenation  of  natural  water bodies have also been included. As on date total number  of sites  identified  for  development  under the  scheme  at  present  are  57 in  29  states/UTs.  As  on  date  the Ministry has sanctioned 36 projects in 24 states    with    estimated expenditure    of    Rs. 1214.19 crore     and     a    total    amount of Rs.675.89 crore has been released for these project from FY 2014-15 to FY 2018-19 and the  current financial year as on date.

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