Lok Sabha Question No. 124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Initiatives to Develop New Tourism Spots in Bardhaman
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.124

## ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## INITIATIVES TO DEVELOP NEW TOURISM SPOTS IN BARDHAMAN

## 124. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  initiative  to  develop  new  tourism spots  in  Kalna,  Katwa,  Raina  &  Purbosthali-II  in  Purba  Bardhaman, West Bengal;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof along with the present status and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  total  revenue  earned  from  tourism  spots  in  the country during the last three years and the current year; and
- (d)  the  funds  invested  by  the  Government  for  developing  new  tourism spots, State/UT-wise and year-wise and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                                   (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (d): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  the  schemes  of  'Swadesh Darshan',  'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  and  'Assistance  to  Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' provides financial assistance  to  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations/Central Agencies for the development of tourism-related infrastructure and facilities  at  various  tourism  destinations/spots  in  the  country  including West Bengal.

The details of projects sanctioned and amount sanctioned along with their  status  under  the  above-mentioned  schemes  in  the  State  of  West Bengal is given at Annexure.

Data  pertaining  to  revenue  generated  from  tourism  is  not  maintained  by the  Ministry  of  Tourism.  However,  year-wise  Foreign  Exchange  Earnings

(FEEs)  from  tourism  during  the  last  three  years  including  current  year (upto September 2023) are given below:

| Year              |   FEE (Rs. in Crore) |
|-------------------|----------------------|
| 2020 #2           |                50136 |
| 2021 #2           |                65070 |
| 2022 #2           |               139935 |
| 2023# 1 (Jan-Sep) |               166660 |

# 2 : Revised Estimates # 1 : Provisional Estimates ***********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.124  ANSWERED  ON  04.12.2023  REGARDING  INITIATIVES TO  DEVELOP  NEW  TOURISM  SPOTS  IN  BARDHAMAN  BY  SHRI  SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | State       | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                              |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released | Physical Status (%)   |
|-----------|-------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | West Bengal | Coastal Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhlai- Henry Island |               67.99 |             65.07 | Complete              |

PRASHAD Scheme (Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | State       | Project Name              | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |   Amount Released | Physical Progress (%)   |
|-----------|-------------|---------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------------|
|         1 | West Bengal | Development of Belur Math | 2016-17         |           30.03 |             23.39 | 92%                     |

Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure  Development Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.      | State        | Name of Projects                               | Central Agency   | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released   | Status                                                      |
|--------------|--------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------|---------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18                                   | Year 2017-18     |                     |                   |                                                             |
| 1.           | West Bengal  | Joint Development of Rampurhat Railway Station | M/o Railways     | 3.48                | 1.74              | Work completed. However, completion certificate is awaited. |
| 2.           | West Bengal  | Joint Development                              | M/o Railways     | 3.87                | 1.93              | Ongoing                                                     |

|              |              | of Tarakeshwar Railway Station                      |              |              |              |                                                                                                                            |
|--------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20                                        | Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20 | Year 2019-20                                                                                                               |
| 3.           | West Bengal  | Joint Development of New Jalpaiguri Railway Station | M/o Railways | 4.55         | 2.27         | Recommend ed by Ministry of Railways for short closure because the stations are selected under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme |

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