Lok Sabha Question No. 165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Promotion of Tourism in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.165

## ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN TAMIL NADU

## 165.  SHRI SELVAM G:

SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  key  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote tourism in the State of Tamil Nadu  including infrastructure development;
- (b) the  number  and  details  of  projects  or  schemes  currently  under implementation  for  tourism  development  in  Tamil  Nadu,  district and scheme -wise;
- (c) whether any new tourist spots have been identified for development  in  Tamil  Nadu  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year and if so, the details of such locations;
- (d) whether the Government has received any proposals from various States including Tamil Nadu for the development of unexplored or new  tourism  circuits / destinations  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof along with the action taken thereon; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to increase financial allocation for tourism infrastructure, destination promotion, digital marketing and  international  outreach  and  if  so,  the  details  of  the  proposed increase and the sectors that will be prioritized?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT )

(a) to (e): Tourism development in the country, including in the State of Tamil  Nadu,  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned  State Governments / Union  Territory  Administrations . The  Ministry  of  Tourism extends financial support through various Schemes -such as Swadesh

Darshan,  PRASHAD,  and  Challenge  Based  Destination  Development (CBDD) -with  the  objective  of  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the States / UTs, subject to adherence to scheme guidelines, submission of Detailed  Project  Reports ( DPRs ) ,  inter -se  priority,  and  availability  of resources . Additionally, under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment  (SASCI) -Development of  Iconic  Tourist  Centres  to  Global Scale,  Government  of  India  sanctioned  40  projects  in  23  States  in Financial Year 2024 -25. The scheme aims at comprehensive development  of  iconic  tourist  centres,  global  branding  and  marketing, and responsible tourism practices. Multiple  projects  have  been  sanctioned  in  Tamil  Nadu  under  the aforesaid  schemes  for  the  development  of  spiritual  sites,  heritage locations, thematic  circuits, and  tourism infrastructure at various destinations  including  Rameswaram  Island,  Thanjavur,  Devala  (The Nilgiris), Mamallapuram, and Velankanni. The details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, SD2 . 0, PRASHAD,  CBDD  and  SASCI  scheme  in  the  state  of  Tamil  Nadu  is Annexed .

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . 165 ANSWERED ON 21 . 07 . 2025 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN TAMIL NADU RAISED BY SHRI SELVAM G AND SHRI C N ANNADURAI .

- ( i ) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under :

(Amount in ₹ crore)

|   Sl . No . | Circuit / Sanction Year       | Name of the Project                                                               | Sanctioned Cost   |
|-------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|           1 | Coastal Circuit ( 2016 - 17 ) | Development of ( Chennai - Mamamallapuram - Rameshwaram - Manpadu - Kanyakumari ) | 73 . 13           |

- (ii) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2 . 0 Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under :

(Amount in ₹ crore)

| Sl . No .   | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience               | Sanctioned Cost   |
|-------------|--------------------|---------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 1 .         | 2023 - 24          | Mamallapuram  | Immersive experience at Shore Temple | 30 . 02           |

- (iii)  Details  of  Project  sanctioned  under  Challenge  Based  Destination Development ( CBDD ) Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under :

(Amount in ₹ crore)

| Sl . No .   | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                 | Sanctioned Cost   |
|-------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 1 .         | 2024 - 25          | Iconic Transformation of Rameswaram | 20 . 01           |

- (iv)    Details  of  Projects  sanctioned  under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under :

(Amount in ₹ crore)

|   Sl . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                      | Sanctioned Cost   |
|-------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|           1 | 2024 - 25          | Development of Nandavanam Heritage Park in Mammallapuram | 99 . 67           |
|           2 | 2024 - 25          | Garden of Flowers in Devala                              | 70 . 23           |

## ( v ) Details of Project sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under :

(Amount in ₹ crore)

|   Sl . No . | Name of Project                    | Sanction Year   | Sanctioned Cost   |
|-------------|------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|           1 | Development of Kanchipuram         | 2016 - 17       | 13 . 99           |
|           2 | Development of Velankanni          | 2016 - 17       | 4 . 86            |
|           3 | Development of 8 Navagraha Temples | 2024 - 25       | 40 . 94           |

- ( vi ) Details  of  Projects  sanctioned  under  the  Scheme  Assistance  to Central Agencies in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under :

(Amount in ₹ Lakh)

|   Sl . No . | Name of Project                                                                       | Agency             | Sanction Date   |   Sanctioned Cost |
|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|           1 | Cruise Passenger Facilities Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port | Chennai Port Trust | 24.09.2012      |           1724.66 |
|           2 | Illumination and allied works at Gangai Konda Cholapuram Temple, District - Ariyalur  | ITDC               | 31.03.2025      |           1147.52 |

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