Lok Sabha Question No. 1128 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Inclusion of Buxar in PRASHAD Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1128 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## INCLUSION OF BUXAR IN PRASHAD SCHEME

## 1128. SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  current  status  of  the  PRASHAD  (Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive)  scheme  and  the  number  of projects that have been implemented under this scheme across the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  considered  inclusion  of  Buxar,  Bihar, under  the PRASHAD  scheme,  given  its  historical  and  spiritual significance as the land where Lord Ram received his education and the site of the famous Panchkosi Parikrama Mela, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the specific steps being taken by the Government to develop and promote  tourism in Buxar, including infrastructure development,  heritage  preservation  and  marketing  of  its  cultural significance; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to collaborate with the Bihar Government to enhance pilgrimage and cultural tourism in Buxar and other historically significant sites in the State and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM            (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  the  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive'  (PRASHAD) Scheme  provides financial assistance to the State Governments  and  Union  Territory Administrations  for  development  of  tourism  infrastructure  at  identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 47 projects in 27 States/UTs    with estimated  cost   of Rs.1594.40  crore      till  date.  Details  of  the  projects sanctioned under the PRASHAD Scheme including their status is given in the annexure. (b) to (d): No proposal  is  under  consideration  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism for  inclusion  of  Buxar,  Bihar  under  the  PRASHAD  Scheme.  However,  the Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  two  projects  in  Bihar  under  the  said scheme namely, 'Development at Patna Sahib' and 'Development of basic facilities  at  Vishnupad  temple'.  In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has identified  two  sites  for  development  under  the  PRASHAD  Scheme  viz. Simariya Ghat, Begusarai District and Aami Mandir, Saran District in Bihar. The Ministry  of  Tourism  as  part  of  its  ongoing  endeavour  also  promotes various tourism destinations and products of the country including Buxar in  Bihar  through  promotional  activities,  events,  website,  social  media promotions etc. Receiving  proposals  from  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for financial  assistance  for  tourism  projects  is  a  continuous  process.  The proposals received are examined  with reference to the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance is extended for such projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated conditions and availability of funds.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1128 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025 REGARDING INCLUSION OF BUXAR IN PRASHAD SCHEME RAISED BY SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:

List of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

| State/UT          |   S. No. | Project Name                                                                                             | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost | Amount Released   | Physical Progress %   |
|-------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
|                   |        1 | Development of Pilgrim Amenities at Amaravati                                                            | 2015-16         |           27.77 | 27.77             | 100%                  |
|                   |        2 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                                          | 2017-18         |           43.08 | 43.08             | 100%                  |
| Andhra Pradesh    |        3 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami Vari Devasthanam at Simhachalam | 2022-23         |           54.04 | 13.69             | 28%                   |
|                   |        4 | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town                                | 2024-25         |           25.33 | -                 | 0%                    |
| Arunachal Pradesh |        5 | Development of Parshuram Kund                                                                            | 2020-21         |           37.88 | 21.95             | 86%                   |
| Assam             |        6 | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Kamakhya Temple                                                   | 2015-16         |           29.8  | 29.80             | 100%                  |
| Bihar             |        7 | Development at Patna Sahib                                                                               | 2015-16         |           29.62 | 29.62             | 100%                  |
|                   |        8 | Development of basic facilities                                                                          | 2014-15         |            3.63 | 3.63              | 100%                  |

|                   |    | at Vishnupad temple                                                |         |       |       |      |
|-------------------|----|--------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| Chhattisgarh      |  9 | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple | 2020-21 | 48.44 | 32.13 | 90%  |
| Goa               | 10 | Development of Bom Jesus Basilica                                  | 2024-25 | 16.46 | -     | 0%   |
|                   | 11 | Development of Dwarka                                              | 2016-17 | 10.46 | 10.46 | 100% |
|                   | 12 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath                     | 2016-17 | 45.36 | 45.36 | 100% |
| Gujarat           | 13 | Development of Promenade at Somnath                                | 2018-19 | 47.12 | 47.12 | 100% |
|                   | 14 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Ambaji Temple              | 2022-23 | 50    | 10.54 | 30%  |
| Haryana           | 15 | Development of Mata Mansa Devi Temple and Nada Saheb Gurudwara     | 2019-20 | 48.53 | 34.68 | 74%  |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 16 | Development at Hazratbal Shrine                                    | 2016-17 | 40.46 | 34.30 | 90%  |
| Jharkhand         | 17 | Development of Baba Baidya Nath Dham                               | 2018-19 | 36.79 | 34.95 | 100% |
| Karnataka         | 18 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwar           | 2023-24 | 45.71 | 0.00  | 0%   |
| Kerala            | 19 | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                    | 2016-17 | 45.19 | 45.19 | 100% |
| Madhya Pradesh    | 20 | Development of Amarkantak                                          | 2020-21 | 49.99 | 34.73 | 81%  |

|             |   21 | Development of Omkareshwar                                                                                                 | 2017-18   |   43.93 |   43.93 | 100%   |
|-------------|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|---------|--------|
| Maharashtra |   22 | Development of Trimbakeshwar                                                                                               | 2017-18   |   42.18 |   29.93 | 93%    |
| Meghalaya   |   23 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Nongswalia Church, Nartiang Shakti Peeth, Aitnar Pool and Charantala Kali Temple | 2020-21   |   29.29 |   24.92 | 100%   |
| Mizoram     |   24 | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism at Chite Vang, Zuangtai, Reiek and Aizawl                | 2022-23   |   44.89 |   13.18 | 29%    |
| Nagaland    |   25 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Molungkimong, Noksen Church, Aizuto, Wokha                                     | 2018-19   |   25.2  |   21.33 | 100%   |
|             |   26 | and Kohima Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure at Zunheboto                                                   | 2022-23   |   18.18 |   10.91 | 62%    |
| Odisha      |   27 | Infrastructure Development at Puri                                                                                         | 2014-15   |   50    |   10    | -      |
| Punjab      |   28 | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                                                      | 2015-16   |    6.4  |    6.4  | 100%   |
|             |   29 | Development of Chamkaur Sahib                                                                                              | 2021-22   |   31.57 |   17.49 | 79%    |
| Rajasthan   |   30 | Integrated                                                                                                                 | 2015-16   |   32.64 |   26.11 | 100%   |

|               |    | Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                                  |         |       |       |      |
|---------------|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| Sikkim        | 31 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom                          | 2020-21 | 33.32 | 28.31 | 87%  |
| Tamil Nadu    | 32 | Development of Kanchipuram                                                                    | 2016-17 | 13.99 | 13.99 | 100% |
| Tamil Nadu    | 33 | Development of Velankanni                                                                     | 2016-17 |  4.86 |  4.86 | 100% |
| Telangana     | 34 | Development of Jogulamba Devi Temple                                                          | 2020-21 | 38.9  | 33.07 | 72%  |
| Telangana     | 35 | Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism Infrastructure at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple | 2022-23 | 62    | 12.82 | 37%  |
| Telangana     | 36 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadrachalam                                      | 2022-23 | 41.38 |  8.43 | 15%  |
| Tripura       | 37 | Development of Tripura Sundari Temple                                                         | 2020-21 | 34.43 | 25.62 | 63%  |
|               | 38 | Development of Varanasi - Phase - I                                                           | 2015-16 | 18.73 | 18.73 | 100% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 39 | Development of Mathura- Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                             | 2014-15 | 10.98 | 10.98 | 100% |
|               | 40 | Development of River Cruise Tourism at Varanasi                                               | 2017-18 |  9.02 |  9.02 | 100% |
|               | 41 | Construction of Tourist Facilitation                                                          | 2014-15 |  9.36 |  9.36 | 100% |

|             |    | Centre Vrindavan                                                                    | at           |       |       |      |
|-------------|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|-------|-------|------|
|             | 42 | Development Varanasi                                                                | of - 2017-18 | 44.60 | 31.77 | 100% |
|             |    | Phase II                                                                            |              |       |       |      |
|             | 43 | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan                               | 2018-19      | 37.59 | 30.97 | 100% |
|             | 44 | Integrated Development of Kedarnath                                                 | 2015-16      | 34.77 | 34.77 | 100% |
| Uttarakhand | 45 | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham      | 2018-19      | 56.15 | 38.38 | 85%  |
|             | 46 | Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities at Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham | 2021-22      | 54.36 | 10.22 | 100% |
| West Bengal | 47 | Development of Belur Math                                                           | 2016-17      | 30.03 | 23.39 | 100% |

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