Lok Sabha Question No. 318 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Achievements of PRASHAD Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *318 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## ACHIEVEMENTS OF PRASHAD SCHEME

## *318. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  highlight  the  remarkable achievements of the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme at major pilgrimage sites across the country;
- (b) the details of the positive growth at destinations developed under the said scheme;
- (c) the  details  of  the  strategy  of  the  Government  for  developing integrated spiritual circuits offering a seamless and holistic journey for devotees;
- (d)      the  details  of  the  concrete steps taken/being taken to ensure the highest standards of 'Swachhata' and waste management at these sacred sites; and
- (e) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  plans  to  leverage  digital technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), to create immersive experiences that narrate the rich history and significance of these sites?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM         (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

********

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*318 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025 REGARDING ACHIEVEMENTS  OF  PRASHAD  SCHEME  RAISED  BY  SHRI  RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR AND DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

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

Since  the  launch  of  the  PRASHAD  Scheme  in  January  2015,  the Ministry has sanctioned 54 projects in 28 States/UTs with an estimated cost of  Rs.1726.74 Crores.  The details of the projects are given in  the Annexure.

Under 54 sanctioned projects of the PRASHAD Scheme across 28 States/UTs, the Ministry of Tourism has developed various amenities for improving overall tourist experience such as Tourist Facilitation Centres, Approach  Roads  and  Parking,  Waiting Halls, Cloak Rooms,  Public Convenience, Cafeteria, Solid Waste Management, Signages, Site Development viz. Landscaping and beautification, Development of Annadanam Centres, etc.

As  per the Report  on  Evaluation  of  Central  Sector  SchemePRASHAD  by  IIM  Rohtak  in  the  year  2021,  the  Scheme  has  helped  in increasing the visitor satisfaction, ease of travel and aesthetical aspects of  the  selected  heritage  sites.  Also,  the  report  mentioned  that  the Scheme  has led to increase in the positive overall visitor user experience.

(c)  to  (e)  :  Development  of  tourist  destinations  is  undertaken  by  the respective  State  Government/Union  Territory  (UT)  Administration.  The Ministry  complements  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  by  developing  and promoting  various  tourism  products  of  the  country,  through  various schemes and initiatives. This process is undertaken in consultation with State Governments (SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs).

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  has developed  projects  under  various  thematic  circuits  such  as  Spiritual Circuits, Buddhist Circuits, Tirthankar Circuits, Krishna Circuits, Ramayana Circuits, etc.

Under the PRASHAD Scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned various projects for the development of tourism infrastructure at identified pilgrimage destinations.

Through the schemes, the Ministry of Tourism aims to enhance the country's tourism landscape by adopting a holistic approach to infrastructure  development  and  has  sanctioned  components  such  as upgradation  of  tourist  arrival  areas  with  Tourist  Facilitation  Centres, approach  roads  and  parking;  provision  of  basic  amenities  like  waiting halls and cloakrooms; and development of utility infrastructure, landscaping  and  beautification  and  the  development  of  Annadanam Centres, etc.

While the regular maintenance of cleanliness at pilgrimage sites is the  responsibility  of  concerned  State  Government/UT  administration, local bodies and temple trusts, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned various interventions to promote hygiene, and cleanliness such as solid waste management systems, sewage treatment plants, public conveniences,  bio-toilets,  pet  bottle  flaking  machines,  dustbins,  waste segregation units, and Pious waste management.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  also  encourages  State  Governments/UT Administrations to leverage innovative technologies for enhancing visitor experience at pilgrimage and heritage sites and has sanctioned components such as experiential centres and AR/VR facilities under the Scheme.  Further,  the  Ministry  has  sanctioned  components  such  as Amphitheaters,  Open  Air  Theatres  (OATs) , Light  and  Sound  shows, Interpretation  centres  which  provides  a  platform  for  narrating  the  rich history and significance of these sites.

- ***********

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*318 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025 REGARDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF PRASHAD SCHEME BY SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR AND DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## List of projects under PRASHAD Scheme

|   S. No . | State             | Project Name                                                                              | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount (Rs. Crores) | Amount Released (RS. Crores)   | Physical Progress   |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh    | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination                   | 2015-16         |                          27.77 | 27.77                          | 100%                |
|         2 | Andhra Pradesh    | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                           | 2017-18         |                          43.08 | 43.08                          | 100%                |
|         3 | Andhra Pradesh    | Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami VariDevasthanam at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple | 2022-23         |                          54.04 | 27.37                          | 65%                 |
|         4 | Andhra Pradesh    | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town                 | 2024-25         |                          25.33 | -                              | -                   |
|         5 | Arunachal Pradesh | Development of ParshuramKund, LohitDistt.                                                 | 2020-21         |                          37.88 | 31.02                          | 92%                 |
|         6 | Assam             | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in                              | 2015-16         |                          29.8  | 29.80                          | 100%                |

|    |               | and around Guwahati                                                                       |         |       |       |      |
|----|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
|  7 | Bihar         | Development at Patna Sahib                                                                | 2015-16 | 29.62 | 29.62 | 100% |
|  8 | Bihar         | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar                          | 2014-15 |  3.63 | 3.63  | 100% |
|  9 | Bihar         | Development of AmbikaBhawani Temple, Saran                                                | 2024-25 | 13.29 | -     | -    |
| 10 | Chhattisg arh | Development of MaaBamleshwari Devi Temple, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon District, Chhattisgarh | 2020-21 | 48.44 | 40.19 | 100% |
| 11 | Goa           | Development of Bom Jesus Basilica                                                         | 2024-25 | 16.46 | 4.68  | -    |
| 12 | Gujarat       | Development of Dwarka                                                                     | 2016-17 | 10.46 | 10.46 | 100% |
| 13 | Gujarat       | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath                                            | 2016-17 | 45.36 | 45.36 | 100% |
| 14 | Gujarat       | Development of Promenade at Somnath                                                       | 2018-19 | 47.12 | 47.12 | 100% |
| 15 | Gujarat       | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at AmbajiTemple, Banaskantha, Gujarat                | 2022-23 | 50    | 30.00 | 38%  |
| 16 | Haryana       | Development of Mata Mansa Devi Temple and Nada SahebGurudwara in Panchkula District       | 2019-20 | 48.53 | 34.68 | 74%  |

|   17 | Jammu & Kashmir   | Development at Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar                                                 | 2016-17   |   40.46 | 34.30   | 100%   |
|------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|---------|--------|
|   18 | Jharkhand         | Development of Baba BaidyanathDham, Deoghar                                               | 2018-19   |   36.79 | 34.95   | 100%   |
|   19 | Karnataka         | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysuru             | 2023-24   |   45.38 | 0.00    | 0%     |
|   20 | Karnataka         | Development of RenukaYallama Devi temple                                                  | 2024-25   |   18.37 | -       | -      |
|   21 | Karnataka         | Development of Basic Amenities at Papnash Temple, Bidar dist.                             | 2024-25   |   22.25 | -       | 0%     |
|   22 | Kerala            | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                           | 2016-17   |   45.19 | 45.19   | 100%   |
|   23 | Madhya Pradesh    | Development of Amarkantak                                                                 | 2020-21   |   49.99 | 42.47   | 100%   |
|   24 | Madhya Pradesh    | Development of Omkareshwar                                                                | 2017-18   |   43.93 | 43.93   | 100%   |
|   25 | Maharash tra      | Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik                                                      | 2017-18   |   45.41 | 38.44   | 91%    |
|   26 | Meghalaya         | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation in Meghalaya                                       | 2020-21   |   29.29 | 27.78   | 100%   |
|   27 | Mizoram           | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism in the State of Mizoram | 2022-23   |   44.89 | 26.37   | 44.5%  |
|   28 | Mizoram           | Development of Basic Amenities                                                            | 2024-25   |    5.47 | -       | -      |

|    |            | under PRASHAD scheme in Vangchhia, Champhai District                                                                  |         |       |       |      |
|----|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| 29 | Nagaland   | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure in Nagaland                                                                  | 2018-19 | 25.2  | 23.56 | 100% |
| 30 | Nagaland   | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure at Zunheboto                                                         | 2022-23 | 18.18 | 15.45 | 99%  |
| 31 | Odisha     | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree JagannathDham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Demuliunder Mega Circuit | 2014-15 | 50    | 10.00 | 27%  |
| 32 | Puducherry | Development of Pilgrim Facilites& Tourist attractions for Sri Dharbaranyeswar a Temple                                | 2024-25 | 25.94 | -     | -    |
| 33 | Punjab     | Development of KarunaSagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                                                  | 2015-16 |  6.4  | 6.40  | 100% |
| 34 | Punjab     | Development of Chamkaur Sahib at Rupar, Punjab                                                                        | 2021-22 | 30.52 | 21.93 | 79%  |
| 35 | Rajasthan  | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                                               | 2015-16 | 32.64 | 26.11 | 100% |
| 36 | Sikkim     | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron                                                                 | 2020-21 | 33.32 | 28.31 | 100% |

|    |               | Saints, Yuksom                                                                                        |         |       |       |      |
|----|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|------|
| 37 | Tamil Nadu    | Development of Kanchipuram                                                                            | 2016-17 | 13.99 | 13.99 | 100% |
| 38 | Tamil Nadu    | Development of Velankanni                                                                             | 2016-17 |  4.86 | 4.86  | 100% |
| 39 | Tamil Nadu    | Development of 8 Navagraha Temples                                                                    | 2024-25 | 40.94 | -     | -    |
| 40 | Telangana     | Development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Alampur                                                         | 2020-21 | 38.9  | 33.07 | 100% |
| 41 | Telangana     | Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism Infrastructure at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Mulugu | 2022-23 | 62    | 32.73 | 75%  |
| 42 | Telangana     | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadrachalam, BhadradriKothag udem District               | 2022-23 | 41.38 | 8.43  | 29%  |
| 43 | Telangana     | Development of Basic Amenities at goddess RenukaYellamaD evasthanam                                   | 2024-25 |  4.22 | -     | -    |
| 44 | Tripura       | Development of Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur                                                        | 2020-21 | 34.43 | 28.01 | 79%  |
| 45 | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Varanasi - Phase -I                                                                    | 2015-16 | 18.73 | 18.73 | 100% |
| 46 | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Mathura- Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)                                     | 2014-15 | 10.98 | 10.98 | 100% |
| 47 | Uttar Pradesh | River Cruise Tourism in                                                                               | 2017-18 |  9.02 | 9.02  | 100% |

|               |               | Ganga, Varanasi                                                                     |               |               |         |      |
|---------------|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------|------|
| 48            | Uttar Pradesh | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan                            | 2014-15       | 9.36          |    9.36 | 100% |
| 49            | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Varanasi - Phase -II                                                 | 2017-18       | 44.60         |   31.77 | 100% |
| 50            | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan                               | 2018-19       | 37.59         |   30.97 | 100% |
| 51            | Uttarakh and  | Integrated Development of Kedarnath                                                 | 2015-16       | 34.77         |   34.77 | 100% |
| 52            | Uttarakh and  | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham      | 2018-19       | 56.15         |   38.38 | 85%  |
| 53            | Uttarakh and  | Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities and Gangotri and YamunotriDham | 2021-22       | 54.36         |   10.22 | 100% |
| 54            | West Bengal   | Development of Belur Math                                                           | 2016-17       | 30.03         |   23.39 | 100% |
| Total 1726.74 | Total 1726.74 | Total 1726.74                                                                       | Total 1726.74 | Total 1726.74 | 1168.65 |      |

*****