Lok Sabha Question No. 1548 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Projects under SDS and PRASHAD in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Atul Garg

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1548

## ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## PROJECTS UNDER SDS AND PRASHAD IN UTTAR PRADESH

## 1548. SHRI ATUL GARG:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme in Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal to include the historic Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Ghaziabad under the spiritual circuit for infrastructure development;
- (c) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  for  the  development  of  tourist amenities in the National Capital Region (NCR);
- (d) the  details  of  the  measures  taken/being  taken  to  promote  the Buddhist circuit sites in the said State to international tourists; and
- (e)
- the timeline for the completion of the ongoing tourism projects in
- Western Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM          (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (e): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  through  its  ongoing  schemes  of 'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive (PRASHAD)', Swadesh Darshan and 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)' a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan, complements the efforts of the State Governments (SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs) by extending  financial  assistance  to  them  for  developing  tourism  related infrastructure  in  the  country,  including  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  and National Capital Region (NCR).

The projects under these schemes  are implemented  by the respective  States/UTs.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  regularly monitors the progress of the projects and also encourages respective

State Government/ UT Administrations to complete the projects in a time bound manner. The details of the projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and National Capital  Region  (NCR)  along  with  their  status  under  the  Schemes  of PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), are given in the Annexure. No  proposal  is  under  consideration  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for development of historic Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Ghaziabad. However, 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.

The Ministry of Tourism as part of its ongoing endeavour promotes various  tourism  destinations  and  products  of  the  country  including Buddhist  sites  through  promotional  activities  such  as  events,  website, social media promotions, fairs and festivals, etc.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1548 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING PROJECTS UNDER SDS AND PRASHAD IN UTTAR PRADESH BY SHRI ATUL GARG

List  of  projects  sanctioned  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and  NCR  under  PRASHAD Scheme

|   Sr. No | State         | Name of the Project                                              | Sanction Year   |   Amount Sanctioned ( ₹ in Crore) |
|----------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|
|        1 | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Varanasi - Phase - I                              | 2015-16         |                             18.73 |
|        2 | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II) | 2014-15         |                             10.98 |
|        3 | Uttar Pradesh | River Cruise Tourism in Ganga, Varanasi                          | 2017-18         |                              9.02 |
|        4 | Uttar Pradesh | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan         | 2014-15         |                              9.36 |
|        5 | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Varanasi - Phase - II                             | 2017-18         |                             44.6  |
|        6 | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan            | 2018-19         |                             37.59 |

## List  of  projects  sanctioned  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and  NCR  under  Swadesh Darshan Scheme

|   Sr. no. | State/UT   | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                             |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ in Crore ) |
|-----------|------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|         1 | Rajasthan  | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Spiritual Circuit - 'Development of Churu (Salasar Balaji)- Jaipur (Shri Samodke |                             87.05 |

|    |               |                           | Balaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehndipur Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji)       |        |
|----|---------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
|  2 | Uttar Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, &Kapilwastu                                                                                                                                         |  87.89 |
|  3 | Uttar Pradesh | Ramayana Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur                                                                                                                                               |  69.45 |
|  4 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Ahar- Aligarh-Kasganj-Sarosi (Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-Mirzapur- Gorakhpur-Domariyaganj- Basti-Barabanki-Azamgarh- Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur                      |  71.91 |
|  5 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi |  67.51 |
|  6 | Uttar Pradesh | Heritage Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- Maghar Dham (Sant Kabir Nagar)- Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- Mahuar shaheed Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)                     |  36.65 |
|  7 | Uttar Pradesh | Ramayana Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Ayodhya                                                                                                                                                                   | 127.21 |

|   8. | Uttar Pradesh   | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Jewar- Dadri-Sikandrabad-Noida- Khurja-Banda                                                     |   12.03 |
|------|-----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|    9 | Uttar Pradesh   | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj) |    18.3 |

## List  of  projects  sanctioned  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and  NCR  under  Swadesh Darshan 2.0

|   Sr. no. | State         | Destination   | Name of the Experience                        | Sanctioned Year          |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ in Crore) |
|-----------|---------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|         1 | Uttar Pradesh | Naimisaranya  | Vedic- wellness Experience                    | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025) |                          17.8  |
|         2 | Uttar Pradesh | Prayagraj     | Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Experince | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025) |                          14.52 |

List  of  projects  sanctioned  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and  NCR  under  Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)

| State         | Destination/ Category       | Name of the Experience                      | Sanctioned Year   |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ in Crore) |
|---------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------|
| Uttar Pradesh | Mahoba (Culture & Heritage) | Development of Cultural Landscape at Mahoba | 2024-25           |                          24.98 |

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