Lok Sabha Question No. 2490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Facilities for Tourists at Ghora Katora
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+2490

## ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS AT GHORA KATORA

## +2490.SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  tourism  in  the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  an  international library, an airport and a five-star hotel at the famous tourist place Ghora Katora at Nalanda district in the State of Bihar;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the additional facilities which the Government proposes to provide to the tourists visiting Ghora Katora, so as to increase the footfall of tourists?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a): Ministry of Tourism promotes the tourism destinations and tourism products of the country in a holistic manner.  The promotions are carried out under the schemes of 'Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality' (DPPH) and 'Overseas Promotion and Publicity' (OPP) in the domestic and significant global markets. Information on tourist destinations in the country, are promoted through the promotional website  -  www.incredibleindia.org  and  the  social  media  handles  of  the Ministry.

Development and promotion of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the  State  Governments/Union  Territory  (UT)  Administrations.  However, Ministry  of  Tourism  is  complementing  the  efforts  by  providing  Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies under the Schemes of Swadesh Darshan,  National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual, Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)  and  Assistance  to  Central

Agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities to provide an enriching tourism experience to the visitors. (b) to (d): The details of the funds sanctioned and released to the State Government  of  Bihar  under  the  aforementioned  Schemes  are  given  in Annexure. Nalanda has also been identified as one of the destinations in Bihar to be developed under the revamped Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0

as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination.

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ANNEXURE

STAEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.+2490  ANSWERED  ON  18.12.2023  REGARDING  FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS AT GHORA KATORA BY SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

DETAILS  OF  THE  FUNDS  PROVIDED  FOR  DEVELOPMENT  OF  TOURISM FACILITIES IN BIHAR YEAR-WISE UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN AND PRASHAD SCHEMES

List of projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme

(Rs. in crore)

|   S.No. | Name of Circuit and Sanction Year   | Project Name                                                                   |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|---------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|       1 | Tirthankar Circuit 2016-17          | Development of Vaishali- Arrah- Masad- Patna- Rajgir- Pawapuri- Champapuri     |               33.96 |             30.04 |
|       2 | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17           | Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar                |               44.76 |             42.52 |
|       3 | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17            | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya |               95.18 |             93.22 |
|       4 | Rural Circuit 2017-18               | Development of Bhitiharwa- Chandrahia- Turkaulia                               |               44.27 |             39.96 |
|       5 | Spiritual Circuit 2017-18           | Development of Mandar Hill & Ang Pradesh                                       |               44.55 |             42.32 |

List of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme

(Rs. in crore)

|   S.No. | Sanction Year   | Project Name                                                     |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|---------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|       1 | 2015-16         | Development at Patna Sahib                                       |               41.54 |             33.23 |
|       2 | 2014-15         | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad Temple, Gaya, Bihar |                4.27 |              2.91 |

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