Lok Sabha Question No. 80 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Central Financial Assistance for Tourism Infrastructure
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Mani A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.80 ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE

80. SHRI MANI A:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  extended  Central  Financial  Assistance (CFA)  to  Tamil  Nadu  for  the  development  of  tourism  infrastructure, particularly ecotourism destinations, under various schemes including the Swadesh Darshan Scheme;
- (b) the details of ecotourism projects sanctioned and implemented in Tamil Nadu,  with  specific  reference  to  Dharmapuri  district,  under  the  Eco Circuit theme;
- (c) whether any proposals have been received from the State Government of  Tamil  Nadu  for  development  of  new  ecotourism  destinations  in Dharmapuri and adjoining areas such as Hogenakkal and the Cauvery Wildlife region;
- (d) the details of the funds approved, released and utilized for such projects during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  steps  taken/being  taken  to  promote  ecotourism  in Dharmapuri  through  digital  campaigns  and  community-based  tourism initiatives?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  concerned  State  Government  (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). 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 scheme and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs in synergy with the scheme guidelines, receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration, availability of funds etc. Ministry of Tourism has revamped the

Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable tourism destinations. Government  of  India  under  its  'Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital Investment (SASCI) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' sanctioned  40  projects  in  23  States  for  Rs.3295.76  Crore  in  the  country including Tamil Nadu in Financial Year 2024-25, with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. In addition, the Ministry under its Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID) scheme also provides financial assistance to central agencies for development of tourism projects. The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  SD,  SD2.0,  CBDD,  PRASHAD, SASCI and ACATID schemes in the state of Tamil Nadu is annexed.  Presently, there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  to  sanction  new  projects  at  ecotourism destinations. In  addition,  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  various  tourist  destinations  and products  of  the  country  including  those  in  Tamil  Nadu  in  domestic  and international markets in a holistic manner under the brand line of 'Incredible India'.  Such promotions are undertaken through various ongoing initiatives such  as  social  media  posts,  promotional  website,  tourism  related  events, extending support to tourism related fairs and festivals, participation in road shows etc.

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STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO  (e) OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.80 ANSWERED ON 01 . 12 . 2025 REGARDING CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE RAISED BY SHRI MANI A.

- (i ) Details  of  Project  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  in  the State of Tamil Nadu:

(Amount in ₹Crore)

| S . No .   | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project   | Name of the Project   | Sanctione d Cost   | Amount Released / Authorized   | Amount Utilizated   |
|------------|---------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1.         | Coastal Circuit           | Development (Chennai- | of                    | 73.13              | 71.03                          | 71.03               |
|            | 2016-17                   | Mamallapuram          | -                     |                    |                                |                     |
|            |                           | Rameshwaram           | -                     |                    |                                |                     |
|            |                           | Manpadu               | -                     |                    |                                |                     |
|            |                           | Kanyakumari)          |                       |                    |                                |                     |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience               |   Sanctioned Cost | Amount Authorized for utilization by Implementing Agency   |
|------------|--------------------|---------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|          1 | 2023-24            | Mamallapuram  | Immersive experience at Shore Temple |             30.02 | --                                                         |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

| S . No .   | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project   | Category   | Sanctione d Cost   | Amount Authorized for utilization by State Implementing Agency   |
|------------|--------------------|-----------------------|------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1.   | 2024- 25   | lconic Transformation of Rameswaram   | Spiritual Tourism   | 20.01   | 2.00   |
|------|------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|---------|--------|

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                            |   Sanctioned Cost | Amount Released for utilization   |
|------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------|
|          1 | 2024-25            | Development of Nandavanam Heritage Park in Mamallapuram        |             99.67 |                                   |
|          2 | 2024-25            | Garden of Flowers in Devala (Project location changed to Ooty) |             70.23 | 112.13                            |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S. No. | Project Name                       | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount | Amount Released   | Amount Utilized   |
|----------|------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Development of Kanchipuram         | 2016-17         |             13.99 | 13.99             | 13.99             |
|        2 | Development of Velankanni          | 2016-17         |              4.86 | 4.86              | 4.86              |
|        3 | Development of 8 Navagraha Temples | 2024-25         |             40.94 | --                | --                |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S. No. | Project Name                                                                       | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount | Amount Released   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Illumination and allied works at GangaikondaCholapuram Temple, District - Ariyalur | 31-03-2025      |             11.47 | --                |

|   2. | Cruise Passenger Facilities Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port. 24-09-2012   | Cruise Passenger Facilities Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port. 24-09-2012   |   17.24 |   17.24 |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|
|    3 | Rameshwaram Railway Station                                                                         | 28-03-2018                                                                                          |    4.7  |    3.75 |
|    4 | Madurai Railway Station                                                                             | 30-06-2018                                                                                          |    4.48 |    3.56 |

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