Lok Sabha Question No. 2399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Development of Munabao Border as a Tourist Destination
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †

## 2399 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF MUNABAO BORDER AS A TOURIST DESTINATION

† 2399. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to develop to Munabao border located  at  the  India -Pakistan  international  border  in  the  Barmer district of Rajasthan, as a tourist destination on the lines of Wagah Border;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to include the activities like the Beating  Retreat  ceremony,  spectator  galleries,  museums  and  light and  sound  shows  to  promote  border  tourism,  national  unity  and patriotic sentiment by developing the Munabao border; and
- (d) if not, whether the Government  is likely to consider tourism development of this historically and strategically significant place in near future?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (d): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and tourism products  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Government / Union  Territory ( UT ) Administration . However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism through  its  central  sector  schemes  of ' Swadesh Darshan ( SD )' ,  'Swadesh Darshan 2 . 0 ( SD2 . 0 )' , ' Challenge Based Destination Development ( CBDD )'  -a sub -scheme of Swadesh Darshan, ' Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage  Augmentation  Drive ( PRASHAD )' and ' Assistance  to  Central Agencies ( ACA ) for  Tourism  Infrastructure  Development ' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure  development  by  extending  financial assistance to the State Governments / UT Administrations/Central Agencies; subject to availability of funds, adherence to scheme guidelines, submission  of  Detailed  Project  Reports ( DPRs ) by  the  State  Government/ UT Administration/concerned Central Agency etc .

In  addition,  Government  of  India  under  its  initiative  for ' Special Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment ( SASCI )' has  also  provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects . The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  along -with  funds  allocated under  SD,  SD2 . 0,  PRASHAD,  ACA  and  SASCI  scheme  in  the  state  of Rajasthan is Annexed. Presently, no proposal is under the consideration in the Ministry of Tourism  to  develop  the  Munabao  border,  located  at  the  India -Pakistan international border in Barmer district of Rajasthan, as a tourist destination on the lines of the Wagah Border. The Ministry of Tourism as part of its ongoing promotional activities regularly promotes various tourist destinations and tourism products of the country, including those in border areas in the international and domestic markets through social media, promotional websites, events etc.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+2399 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT  OF  MUNABAO  BORDER  AS  A  TOURIST  DESTINATION RAISED BY SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL

Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Rajasthan:

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S . No . | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |   Sanctioned Cost |
|------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|          1 | Desert Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |             50.01 |
|          2 | Krishna Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Govind Dev ji temple (Jaipur), KhatuShyam Ji (Sikar) and Nathdwara (Rajsamand)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |             75.8  |
|          3 | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Spiritual Circuit - 'Development of Churu (SalasarBalaji)-Jaipur (Shri SamodkeBalaji, GhatkeBalaji, BandhekeBalaji)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - MehndipurBalaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji)                                                                                                                  |             87.05 |
|          4 | Heritage Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Heritage Circuit Development of Rajsamand (Kumbhalgarh Fort) - Jaipur (Facade Illumination in Jaipur and Nahargarh Fort) -Jhalawar (Gagron Fort) - Chittorgarh (Chittorgarh Fort) - Jaisalmer (Jaisalmer Fort) - Hanumangarh (Gogamedi) - Udaipur (Pratap Gaurav Kendra) - Dholpur (Bagh-I-Nilofor and PuraniChawani) - Nagaur (Meera Bai Smarak, Merta) - Tonk (SunehriKothi) |             70.61 |

List  of  projects  sanctioned  under  PRASHAD  Scheme  in  the  State  of Rajasthan:

|   S. No. | Project Name                         | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount (in ₹ Crores) |
|----------|--------------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | Integrated Development Pushkar/Ajmer | 2015-16         |                           32.64 |

List  of  Projects  Sanctioned  under  the  Scheme  Assistance  to  Central Agencies in the State of Rajasthan:

|   S. No. | Name of Project                                                                                            | Agency   | Sanction Date   |   Amount sanctioned (in ₹ Cr ore) |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|
|        1 | Development of Border Tourism at Shri Tanot Complex, Jaisalmer Sector                                      | BSF      | 05-07-2022      |                             17.68 |
|        2 | Installation of Musical Fountain & Water Screen Multimedia based projection show at NawalSagar Lake, Bundi | ITDC     | 04-10-2023      |                              9.26 |

List  of  sanctioned  projects  under  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  in  the  State  of Rajasthan :

|   S No. | Year of Sanction   | Destination                           | Name of the Experience                                 |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Cr ore) |
|---------|--------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|       1 | 2023-24            | Bundi                                 | Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan                   |                        21.65 |
|       2 | 2024-25            | Sikar                                 | Development works at Shri KhatuShyam Ji Temple (Sikar) |                        87.87 |
|       3 | 2024-25            | Karni Mata temple, Bikaner dist.      | Development Works at Shri Karnimatamandir, Bikaner     |                        22.57 |
|       4 | 2024-25            | MalaseriDungari (District - Bhilwara) | Development of MalaseriDungri, Bhilwara District       |                        48.73 |

List  of  Projects  sanctioned  under  the  Special  Assistance  to  States  for Capital  Investment  (SASCI  Scheme)  -  Development  of  Iconic  Tourist Centres to Global Scale in the State of Rajasthan:

|   S. No. | State     | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                           |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Cr ore) |
|----------|-----------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|        1 | Rajasthan | 2024-25            | Development at Amber-Nahargarh and Surrounding Area in Jaipur |                        49.31 |
|        2 | Rajasthan | 2024-25            | Development at Jalmahal in Jaipur                             |                        96.61 |