Lok Sabha Question No. 72 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Projects to Develop Lesser known Destinations
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.72 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## PROJECTS TO DEVELOP LESSER KNOWN DESTINATIONS

72.   SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE: SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has approved tourism projects to develop lesser known destinations into iconic sites;
- (b) if so, the  details  of the  sites  identified  therefor,  State-wise, particularly in Maharashtra and Balaghat of Madhya Pradesh;
- whether  any  time  line  has  been  fixed  for  completion  of  these
- (c) projects;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  funds  sanctioned  and released  therefor,  State-wise,  particularly  in  Maharashtra  and Balaghat of Madhya Pradesh; and
- (e) the details of steps taken by the Union Government to distribute tourists more evenly, promote local economies and ensure sustainable growth in tourism?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM        (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): While development and promotion of tourism destinations and products  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  concerned  State  Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), the Ministry of  Tourism through  its  central  sector  schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan  (SD)'  and 'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive (PRASHAD)' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development  by  extending  financial  assistance  to  the  SGs/UTAs  in synergy with the scheme guidelines, availability of funds etc.

The Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes were launched in the year 2014-15. Since its inception a total number of 76 projects under different thematic circuits of Swadesh Darshan scheme, have been sanctioned in the  country  for  a  revised  sanction  amount  of  Rs.5287.90  Crore  out  of which Rs.4956.39 Crore has been released/authorized. Out of these 76

projects, 75 projects are reported physically complete. Since its launch the  Ministry  has  sanctioned  47  projects  in  27  States/UTs  under  the PRASHAD scheme with estimated cost of Rs.1594.40 crore and a total amount of Rs.1036.96 crore has been released for these project.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  revamped  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & touristcentric approach.

Under  'Scheme  for  Special  Assistance  to  States/Union  Territories  for Capital Investment (SASCI) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centers to Global Scale', Government of India has recently sanctioned 40 Projects in the country for Rs.3295.76 Crore. Under the Scheme the projects are to be completed by 31.03.2026.

The details of the projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan, SD 2.0, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are Annexed.

(e): Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to distribute tourists more evenly, promote local economies and ensure sustainable growth in tourism.

Under various schemes of the Ministry, tourism facilities are developed in various parts of the country including lesser-known destinations.

The  Ministry  advises  States/UTs  to  ensure  due  consultation  with  the local  communities  in  preparing  the  projects  and  emphasis  is  given  on adoption  of  principles  of  sustainable  tourism  including  environmental sustainability, Socio-cultural sustainability and economic sustainability.

Ministry of Tourism has also formulated a National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and launched 'Travel for LiFE', a sectoral program under Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE). The objective of Travel for  LiFE  is  to  promote  mainstreaming  of  sustainability  in  the  tourism sector, create awareness and nudge tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices synchronous with nature.

The Ministry of Tourism has also revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme in the form of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the mission to create a robust framework for integrated development of tourism destinations.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.72  ANSWERED  ON  03.02.2025  REGARDING  PROJECTS  TO DEVELOP LESSER KNOWN DESTINATIONS RAISED BY SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE AND SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

List of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra: -

(Rs. in Crore)

|   S. No. | State          | Circuit          | Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                  |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released/ Authorized* |
|----------|----------------|------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Madhya Pradesh | Wildlife Circuit | 2015-16         | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur- Sanjay- Dubri- Bandhavgarh- Kanha- Mukki- Pench |               92.1  |                          86.31 |
|        2 | Madhya Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit | 2016-17         | Development of Sanchi- Satna-Rewa- Mandsaur- Dhar                                                    |               74.02 |                          72.75 |
|        3 | Madhya Pradesh | Heritage Circuit | 2016-17         | Development of Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Chanderi - Bhimbetka - Mandu                           |               89.82 |                          89.49 |
|        4 | Madhya Pradesh | Eco Circuit      | 2017-18         | Development of Gandhisagar Dam- Mandleshwar Dam- Omkareshwar                                         |               93.76 |                          93.59 |

|    |             |                   |         | Dam- Indira Sagar Dam- Tawa Dam- Bargi Dam- BhedaGhat- Bansagar Dam- Ken River                        |       |       |
|----|-------------|-------------------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
|  5 | Maharashtra | Coastal Circuit   | 2015-16 | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav | 19.06 | 18.1  |
|  6 | Maharashtra | Spiritual Circuit | 2018-19 | Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Telankhandi- Girad                                | 45.47 | 43.19 |

* Includes amount of authorization to CNA through TSA Model I for Central Sector Scheme.

List  of  sanctioned  projects  under  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0,  in  the  States  of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra:-

|   S. No. | State          | Destination   | Name of the Experience             |   Sanctioned Cost (Rs. Crore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|----------------|---------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior       | Phoolbagh Experience Zone          |                         16.73 | 29-02-2024         |
|        2 | Madhya Pradesh | Chitrakoot    | Spiritual experience at Chitrakoot |                         27.21 | 05-03-2024         |

| 3   | Maharashtra   | Pune   | Shivsrushti                    | 76.22   | 21-09-2024   |
|-----|---------------|--------|--------------------------------|---------|--------------|
|     |               |        | Historical Theme Park- Phase 3 |         |              |

List  of  sanctioned  projects  under  Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital Investment (SASCI Scheme) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centers to Global Scale, in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra: -

|   S. No. | State          | Name of the Project                                                                |   Sanctioned Cost (Rs. in Crore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Madhya Pradesh | Orchha A Medieval Splendour in Orchha                                              |                            99.92 | 26-11-2024         |
|        2 | Madhya Pradesh | International Convention Centre for MICE in Bhopal                                 |                            99.38 | 26-11-2024         |
|        3 | Maharashtra    | INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and Submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg |                            46.91 | 26-11-2024         |
|        4 | Maharashtra    | Development of RAM-KAL PATH in Nashik                                              |                            99.14 | 26-11-2024         |

List of sanctioned projects under PRASHAD Scheme, in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra:-

(Rs. in Crore)

|   S. No. | State          | Project Name                 | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |   Amount Released |
|----------|----------------|------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Madhya Pradesh | Development of Amarkantak    | 2020-21         |           49.99 |             34.73 |
|        2 | Madhya Pradesh | Development of Omkareshwar   | 2017-18         |           43.93 |             43.93 |
|        3 | Maharashtra    | Development of Trimbakeshwar | 2017-18         |           42.18 |             29.93 |

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