Lok Sabha Question No. 190 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Objectives of PRASHAD Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai, Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.190 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## OBJECTIVES OF PRASHAD SCHEME

## 190.  SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:

SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

SHRI SELVAM G:

SHRI NAVASKANI K:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has implemented the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme;
- (b) the  objectives,  scope  and  key  targeted  areas  of  the  PRASHAD Scheme, including the criteria for selecting pilgrimage sites;
- (c) the steps taken under the PRASHAD Scheme to promote spirituals/sustainable tourism and improve infrastructure at pilgrimage sites;
- (d)      the  total  funds  allocated  for  the  scheme  particularly  for  Tamil Nadu and the progress made so far in its implementation including Kallakurichi Constituency of Tamil Nadu;
- (e) the key achievements of the PRASHAD Scheme since its inception along with challenges by the Government in implementing PRASHAD projects;
- (f) the number of pilgrimage sites identified and developed under the
- PRASHAD Scheme in Tamil Nadu;
- (g) the list of pilgrimage sites included in the PRASHAD Scheme along with the funds allocated to each State, State-wise;
- (h) whether there are any States where the PRASHAD Scheme is yet to be implemented and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (i) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  monitor  the  progress  of projects  and  conduct  regular  evaluations  under  the  PRASHAD Scheme?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM        (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (i): Yes Sir, Ministry of Tourism, Government  of India is implementing Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme.

The 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation  Drive'  (PRASHAD)  has  been  launched  by  the  Ministry  of Tourism  with  the  objective  of  integrated  development  of  identified pilgrimage  and  heritage  destinations. Under  the  scheme,  Ministry  of Tourism  provides  financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments  and Union Territory Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure  at  important  pilgrimage  and  heritage  destinations.  The vision of the scheme is to rejuvenate pilgrimage and spiritual experience of the tourists through availability of well- planned tourism infrastructure enabling tourist convenience, accessibility, security, cleanliness, experience  and  revitalize/preserve  the  soul  of  the  pilgrimage/heritage city  through  integrated,  inclusive,  and  sustainable  developments  that would spur employment opportunities for the local communities.

The selection of pilgrimage sites under PRASHAD Scheme is based on various  parameters,  which,  inter-alia,  include  the  number  of  footfalls, cultural,  historical  &  heritage  significance  of  the  locations,  equitable representation to  ensure nationwide development, availability of funds and other factors. This process is undertaken in consultation with State Governments (SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs).

Since the launch of the Scheme, the Ministry has sanctioned 47 projects in 27 States/UTs   with an estimated cost of Rs.1594.40 crore and a total amount  of  Rs.1047.92  crore  has  been  released  for these projects till date.

Details of the projects sanctioned/sites identified along with the details of funds released till date under the scheme including the State of Tamil Nadu is given in the Annexure.

Receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT Administrations for financial  assistance  for  tourism  projects  is  a  continuous  process.  The proposals  received  are  examined  with  reference  to  the  prescribed guidelines  and  financial  assistance  is  extended  for  such  projects subject  to  fulfilment  of  the  stipulated  conditions  and  availability  of funds.

The primary issue faced in the projects sanctioned under the scheme is ensuring their timely completion. Although the projects are implemented by the respective State Governments/UT Administrations, the Ministry of Tourism regularly monitors their progress and actively encourages the concerned authorities to complete them within the stipulated timeframe. In order to monitor and expedite progress of the sanctioned projects and to  guide  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations,  the  Ministry  of Tourism  holds  regular  review  meetings  at  different  levels.  Further, Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee and Mission Directorate

meetings are also held in accordance with the scheme guidelines.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (i) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.190 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025 REGARDING OBJECTIVES OF  PRASHAD  SCHEME  RAISED  BY  SHRI  MALAIYARASAN  D,  SHRI  C  N ANNADURAI, SHRI SELVAM G AND SHRI NAVASKANI K

List of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme

(in Rs. Crore)

| State/UT          |   S. No. | Project Name                                                                                             | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost | Amount Released   | Physical Progress %   |
|-------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    |        1 | Development of Pilgrim Amenities at Amaravati                                                            | 2015-16         |           27.77 | 27.77             | 100%                  |
| Andhra Pradesh    |        2 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                                          | 2017-18         |           43.08 | 43.08             | 100%                  |
| Andhra Pradesh    |        3 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami VariDevastha nam at Simhachalam | 2022-23         |           54.04 | 13.69             | 28%                   |
| Andhra Pradesh    |        4 | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town                                | 2024-25         |           25.33 | -                 | 0%                    |
| Arunachal Pradesh |        5 | Development of ParshuramK und                                                                            | 2020-21         |           37.88 | 21.95             | 86%                   |
| Assam             |        6 | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Kamakhya                                                          | 2015-16         |           29.8  | 29.80             | 100%                  |

|                   | Temple                                                                |         |       |       |      |
|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| Bihar             | 7. Development at Patna Sahib                                         | 2015-16 | 29.62 | 29.62 | 100% |
|                   | 8. Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple                | 2014-15 |  3.63 | 3.63  | 100% |
| Chhattis garh     | 9. Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple | 2020-21 | 48.44 | 32.13 | 90%  |
| Goa               | 10.Development of Bom Jesus Basilica                                  | 2024-25 | 16.46 | -     | 0%   |
| Gujarat           | 11.Development of Dwarka                                              | 2016-17 | 10.46 | 10.46 | 100% |
|                   | 12.Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath                     | 2016-17 | 45.36 | 45.36 | 100% |
|                   | 13.Development of Promenade at Somnath                                | 2018-19 | 47.12 | 47.12 | 100% |
|                   | 14.Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Ambaji Temple              | 2022-23 | 50    | 10.54 | 30%  |
| Haryana           | 15.Development of Mata Mansa Devi Temple and Nada Saheb Gurudwara     | 2019-20 | 48.53 | 34.68 | 74%  |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 16.Development at Hazratbal Shrine                                    | 2016-17 | 40.46 | 34.30 | 90%  |

| Jharkhand      | 17.Development of Baba BaidyaNath Dham                                                                            | 2018-19   |   36.79 |   34.95 | 100%   |
|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|---------|--------|
| Karnataka      | 18.Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundesh wari Devi Temple                                         | 2023-24   |   45.71 |    0    | 0%     |
| Kerala         | 19.Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                | 2016-17   |   45.19 |   45.19 | 100%   |
| Madhya Pradesh | 20.Development of Amarkantak                                                                                      | 2020-21   |   49.99 |   34.73 | 81%    |
| Madhya Pradesh | 21.Development of Omkareshwar                                                                                     | 2017-18   |   43.93 |   43.93 | 100%   |
| Maharas htra   | 22.Development of Trimbakeshwar                                                                                   | 2017-18   |   42.18 |   29.93 | 93%    |
| Meghalaya      | 23.Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Nongswalia Church, Nartiang Shakti Peeth, Aitnar Pool and Charantala | 2020-21   |   29.29 |   24.92 | 100%   |
| Mizoram        | 24.Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism at ChiteVang, Zuangtai,                      | 2022-23   |   44.89 |   13.18 | 29%    |

|            | Reiek and Aizawl                                                                                      |         |       |       |      |
|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| Nagaland   | 25.Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Molungkimon g, Noksen Church, Aizuto, Wokha and Kohima | 2018-19 | 25.2  | 21.33 | 100% |
| Nagaland   | 26.Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure at Zunheboto                                      | 2022-23 | 18.18 | 10.91 | 62%  |
| Odisha     | 27.Infrastructure Development at Puri                                                                 | 2014-15 | 50    | 10    | -    |
| Punjab     | 28.Development of KarunaSagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                               | 2015-16 |  6.4  |  6.4  | 100% |
| Punjab     | 29.Development of Chamkaur Sahib                                                                      | 2021-22 | 31.57 | 17.49 | 79%  |
| Rajasthan  | 30.Integrated Development of Pushkar/ Ajmer                                                           | 2015-16 | 32.64 | 26.11 | 100% |
| Sikkim     | 31.Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom                               | 2020-21 | 33.32 | 28.31 | 87%  |
| Tamil Nadu | 32.Development of Kanchipuram                                                                         | 2016-17 | 13.99 | 13.99 | 100% |
|            | 33.Development                                                                                        | 2016-17 |  4.86 |  4.86 | 100% |

|               |                                                              | of Velankanni                                                                                    |         |       |       |      |
|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| Telangana     |                                                              | 34.Development of Jogulamba Devi Temple                                                          | 2020-21 | 38.9  | 33.07 | 72%  |
|               |                                                              | 35.Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism Infrastructure at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple | 2022-23 | 62    | 12.82 | 37%  |
|               | 36. Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadrachalam | 36. Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadrachalam                                     | 2022-23 | 41.38 |  8.43 | 15%  |
| Tripura       |                                                              | 37.Development of Tripura Sundari Temple                                                         | 2020-21 | 34.43 | 25.62 | 63%  |
| Uttar Pradesh |                                                              | 38.Development of Varanasi - Phase - I                                                           | 2015-16 | 18.73 | 18.73 | 100% |
|               |                                                              | 39.Development of Mathura- Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                             | 2014-15 | 10.98 | 10.98 | 100% |
|               |                                                              | 40.Development of River Cruise Tourism at Varanasi                                               | 2017-18 |  9.02 |  9.02 | 100% |
|               |                                                              | 41.Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan                                      | 2014-15 |  9.36 |  9.36 | 100% |
|               | 42.Development                                               | 42.Development                                                                                   | 2017-18 | 44.6  | 31.77 | 100% |

|              | of Varanasi - Phase II                                                                 |         |       |       |      |
|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
|              | 43.Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan                               | 2018-19 | 37.59 | 30.97 | 100% |
| Uttarakh and | 44.Integrated Development of Kedarnath                                                 | 2015-16 | 34.77 | 34.77 | 100% |
|              | 45.Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham      | 2018-19 | 56.15 | 38.38 | 85%  |
|              | 46.Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities at Gangotri and YamunotriDh am | 2021-22 | 54.36 | 10.22 | 100% |
| West Bengal  | 47.Development of Belur Math                                                           | 2016-17 | 30.03 | 23.39 | 100% |

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