Lok Sabha Question No. 2478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Development of Coastal Circuit  in Kerala
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2478

## ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL CIRCUIT IN KERALA

## 2478. DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is likely to consider the development of a Kerala Coastal circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is likely to add schemes for the development of Coastal Communities in the district of Malappuram, Kerala to be included in the Coastal Circuit development; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM        (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): Identification and development of various tourist destinations including coastal circuit are primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government  (SG)  /  Union  Territory  Administration  (UTA).  However,  the Ministry  of  Tourism  through  its  central  sector  sch emes  of  'Swadesh Darshan (SD)', 'Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)', 'Challenge Based Destination  Development  (CBDD)'  a  subscheme  of  SD2.0,  'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Ag encies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID)' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by  extending  financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments  /  UT Administrations  /Central  Agencies;  subject  to  adherence  to  scheme guidelines, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability of funds, inter-se priority etc.

In  addition,  Government  of  India  under  its  initiative  for  'Special Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI)-Development  of Iconic  Tourist  Centres  to  Global  Scale'  has  also  provided  financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects.

Ministry  of  Tourism  revamped  the  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  as Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  with  the  objective  to  develop  sustainable  and responsible tourism destinations in the country, adopting a destination and tourist-centric approach in place of the earlier circuit-based framework.

The details of the projects sanctioned under aforesaid schemes of the Ministry of Tourism in the state of Kerala is annexed.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . 2478 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL CIRCUIT IN KERALA RAISED BY DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI

## (i) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Kerala:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                           |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | Eco Circuit 2015-16       | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                        |               64.08 |
|          2 | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                        |               46.54 |
|          3 | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of SreePadmanabha Arnamula                                                                                        |               78.08 |
|          4 | Rural Circuit 2018-19     | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                         |               57.35 |
|          5 | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19 | Development SivagiriSree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara SreeSubrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam |               66.42 |

- (ii) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2 . 0 Scheme in the State of Kerala:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience              |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|--------------------|---------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | 2023-24            | Kumarakom     | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience |               13.81 |

|   2. | 2024-25   | Alappuzha   | Alappuzha: A Global Water Wonderland                                    |   93.18 |
|------|-----------|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|    3 | 2024-25   | Malampuzha  | Enhancement of Tourist Experience at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park |   75.87 |

- (iii) Details  of  Project  sanctioned  under  Challenge  Based  Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme in the State of Kerala:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project             | Category           |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|--------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | 2024-25            | Thalassery: The Spiritual Nexus | Spiritual Tourism  |                  25 |
|          2 | 2024-25            | Varkala- Dakshin Kashi          | Culture & Heritage |                  25 |

- (iv) Details of Project sanctioned under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme in the State of Kerala:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S. No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                          |   Sanctioned Amount |
|-----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|         1 | 2024-25            | Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco- recreational Hub in Kollam   |               59.71 |
|         2 | 2024-25            | Global Gateway to Malabar's Cultural Crucible in Sargaalayaa |               95.34 |

- (v) Details  of  Project  sanctioned  under  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme in the State of Kerala:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S. No. | Project Name                    | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount |
|----------|---------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Development at Guruvayur Temple | 2016-17         |             45.19 |

## (vi) Details of Project sanctioned under Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID) Scheme in the State of Kerala:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S. No. | Project Name                                                                                         | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Development of a Walkway/Promenade on Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala                              | 28-10-2016      |              9.01 |
|        2 | Central Financial Assistance for upgrading of Births & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf                | 31-03-2017      |             21.41 |
|        3 | Developing infrastructure at Cochin Port Cruise Terminal.                                            | 12-12-2018      |              1.2  |
|        4 | Creation of additional tourism facilities at the Cochin Port Trust Walkway                           | 12-12-2018      |              4.66 |
|        5 | Development of Additional infrastructure in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal                       | 13-12-2019      |             10.29 |
|        6 | Project for Up-gradation of Golf Course at SAI Trivandrum Golf Club by the Sports Authority of India | 31-03-2017      |             24.65 |
|        7 | Thiruvananthapuram Central station (TVC)                                                             | 30-07-2013      |              5.98 |

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