Lok Sabha Question No. 3845 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Restoration and Beautification of Fort Kochi Beach
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3845 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## RESTORATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF FORT KOCHI BEACH

## 3845. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Indian tourism industry has been facing various challenges/issues/difficulties;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to allocate special funds for the restoration of Fort Kochi Beach, Ernakulam, Kerala, considering its historical and tourism significance, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government recognizes the urgent need to restore the Fort  Kochi  Beach  and  walkway,  which  are  in  a  state  of  neglect despite being major tourist attractions, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to include Fort Kochi Beach in any existing  or  upcoming  tourism  development  schemes  to  ensure  its long-term preservation, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government is likely to provide financial assistance to the  State  Government  of  Kerala  for  the  urgent  restoration  and beautification of Fort Kochi Beach and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a)  &  (b):  Mitigating  various  issues,  challenges  and  difficulties  arising  in tourism  sector  from  time  to  time  is  a  continuous  process.  While  various issues  related  to  development  and  promotion  of  tourism  fall  under  the ambit of concerned State Governments/UT Administrations, the Ministry of Tourism  through  its  schemes  of  tourism  infrastructure  development, marketing  and  promotion,  skill  development  etc.  complements  these tourism  development  efforts  by  undertaking  various  initiatives  in  the country.

(c) to (f):  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  'Swadesh  Darshan'  & 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' schemes provides financial assistance to State Government/UT  Administration  for  undertaking  tourism  related  projects. Such assistance is provided on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  and  subject  to  its adherence  to  the  scheme  guidelines  and  instructions  issued  by  the Government from time to time, availability of budget, inter-se priority etc. Presently there is no proposal under active consideration of the Ministry of Tourism for allocating special funds for restoration of Fort Kochi Beach. However,  the  Ministry  since  inception  of  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  in 2014-15 sanctioned a total number of 76 projects under different thematic circuits for Rs. 5287.90 Crore including 5 projects in the State of Kerala. Now the Ministry has revamped the Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable destinations and  has  sanctioned  34  projects  in  the  country  for  Rs.  791.25  Crore including 1 project in the State of Kerala. Under 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 48 projects in the country for Rs. 1620.21 Crore including 1 Project in the State of Kerala. Further,  Government  of  India  under  its  'Special  Assistance  to  States  for Capital  Investment  (SASCI) -Development  of  Iconic  Tourist  Centres  to Global  Scale'  sanctioned  40  projects  in  23  States  for  Rs.  3295.76  Crore including 2 projects in the State of Kerala, in Financial Year 2024-25. The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  in  the  State  of  Kerala  under Swadesh Darshan, SD2.0, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes is Annexed.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3845 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025 REGARDING RESTORATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF FORT KOCHI BEACH RAISED BY SHRI HIBI EDEN

List of Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD and SASCI in the State of Kerala are as under

| Swadesh Darshan scheme     | Swadesh Darshan scheme                                                                                                          | Swadesh Darshan scheme                                                                                                          | Swadesh Darshan scheme         |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Circuit/ Year of sanction  | Name of the Project                                                                                                             | Name of the Project                                                                                                             | Amount sanctioned (₹ in Crore) |
| Eco Circuit 2015-16        | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                          | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                          | 64.08                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                          | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                          | 46.54                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Sree Padmanabha Temple, Aranmula                                                                                 | Development of Sree Padmanabha Temple, Aranmula                                                                                 | 78.08                          |
| Rural Circuit 2018-19      | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           | 57.35                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2018-19  | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam | 66.42                          |
| Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme | Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme                                                                                                      | Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme                                                                                                      | Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme     |
| 2023-24                    | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience                                                                                             | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience                                                                                             | 13.92                          |
| PRASHAD                    | PRASHAD                                                                                                                         | PRASHAD                                                                                                                         | PRASHAD                        |
| 2016-17                    | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                                 | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                                 | 45.19                          |
| SASCI                      | SASCI                                                                                                                           | SASCI                                                                                                                           | SASCI                          |
| 2024-25                    | Ashtamudi Biodiversity and recreational Hub in Kollam                                                                           | Eco-                                                                                                                            | 59.71                          |
| 2024-25                    | Global Gateway to Malabar's Crucible in Sargaalayaa                                                                             | Cultural                                                                                                                        | 95.34                          |

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