Lok Sabha Question No. 1200 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-02
Subject: Complete Data on Tourist Destinations
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1200 ANSWERED ON 02.05.2016

## COMPLETE DATA ON TOURIST DESTINATIONS

## 1200. SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  development  projects  initiated  in  various Tourist destinations in the country and the measures taken by the Government to equip the tourist spots with latest state-ofthe-art facilities; and
- (b) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  alert  and  inform correct and complete data on tourist destinations preferred by foreign  tourists  with  latest  state-of-the-art  facilities  using  IT and wi-fi technology?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  (MOT)  provides  Central  Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects subject to availability of  funds,  liquidation  of  pending  utilization  certificates  against  the funds  released  earlier,  submission  of  suitable  Detailed  Project Report (DPR) and adherence to the relevant scheme guidelines.

The State/UT-wise  details  of number  of projects  and  amount sanctioned during 2015-16 is given in the Annexure.

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the following two new plan schemes during 2014-15:

- 1) Swadesh Darshan for Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits around Specific Themes.
- 2) National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual Augmentation  Drive  (PRASAD)  to  beautify  and  improve  the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths.

Under the above mentioned scheme the following components are provided for infrastructure development:

-  Development/Upgradation of Passenger Terminals (Road, Rail, Water Transport)
-  Procurement  of  equipment  for  eco-friendly  modes  of tourist  transport
-  Improvement  of  road  connectivity  leading  to  tourist sites/destinations.
-  Use of clean energy sources for street lighting
- 
- Slum upgradation
-  Tourism Information/Interpretation centres with ATMs/money exchange counters
-  Informatory/Directional signages
-  Wayside  Amenities  with  emergency vehicle breakdown, repair and refuel facilities
-  Infrastructure provision for stationing of caravan vehicles;
-  Convention Centres/Golf Course/Aquamarine Parks/amusement parks/theme parks
-  General Improvements such as earth filling, landscaping (including trees, shrubs), water fountains, fencing, lighting, pavements/walkways/pathways/driveways, seating facilities/shelters, drinking water points, garbage bins, storm water drainage, treatment facilities for sewerage/effluent
-  External infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity and roads
-  Restoration, conservation, illumination of monuments/heritage structures;
-  Renewable sources of energy for tourist infrastructure
-  Environmental care and access to clean technology
-  Parking facilities for two-wheelers, cars, buses, caravans
-  Toilet, Cloak room facilities and waiting rooms.
-  Equipments for tourism activities such as sound & light show, water sports, adventure sports, etc
-  Construction of craft haats/bazaars/souvenir shops/cafeteria
-  Construction of open air theatres/amphi-theaters
-  Construction of nature trails, watch towers, rain shelters, log huts
-  First Aid Centres (including Indian Medicines System);
-  Helipads,  Heliports, Airstrips, Ropeways  required  for tourist in the identified circuits
-  Shoreline  development  &  Rejuvenation  of  natural  water bodies such as rivers, lakes, streams, river fronts.
-  Improvement in communication through telephone booths, mobile services and internet connectivity.
-  Any other activity directly related to tourism and required for development of the identified circuit.

(b): Providing information on tourism destinations is the responsibility of the state government/UT administrations. However, Ministry of Tourism has launched the 24x7 Toll Free Multi-Lingual Tourist  Info  Line  for  providing  support  service  in  terms  of  giving information  relating  to  Travel  &  Tourism  in  India  and  assist  the callers with advice on action to be taken during times of distress while  travelling in  India  and  if  need  be  alert  the  concerned authorities.

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India also releases promotional campaigns in the print, electronic, online and outdoor media  in  international  markets,  under  the  'Incredible  India'  brandline, to showcase India's tourism potential and destinations.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1200 ANSWERED ON 02.05.2016 REGARDING COMPLETE DATA ON TOURIST DESTINATIONS.

## Year 2015-16 SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | Name of Theme             | State          | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |   Amount Sanctioned |
|-----------|---------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|         1 | North- East India Circuit | Manipur        | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal-Moirang- Khongjom-Moreh                                                                                                                                                                        |               89.66 |
|         2 | North- East India Circuit | Sikkim         | Development of Tourist Circuit linking - Rangpo (entry) - Rorathang - Aritar - Phadamchen - Nathang - Sherathang - Tsongmo - Gangtok - Phodong - Mangan - Lachung - Yumthang - Lachen - Thangu - Gurudongmer - Mangan - Gangtok - Tumin Lingee - |               98.05 |
|         3 | Eco Circuit               | Uttarakhand    | Integrated Development of Eco-Tourism, Adventure Sports, Associated Tourism related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New Destination-District Tehri, Uttarakhand.                                                  |               80.37 |
|         4 | Coastal Circuit           | Andhra Pradesh | Development of Coastal Tourism Circuit in Sri Potti Sriramalu Nellore in Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                          |               60.38 |

|   5. | North- East India Circuit   | Arunachal Pradesh   | Integrated Development of Adventure Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                  |   97.14 |
|------|-----------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|    6 | Eco Tourism Circuit         | Kerala              | Gavi-Patha-Namthitta- Vagamon-Thekkady                                                                                                                            |   99.22 |
|    7 | Desert Circuit              | Rajasthan           | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations under Desert Circuit in Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                                            |   63.96 |
|    8 | Tribal Circuit              | Nagaland            | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren -Kohima-Wokha, Nagaland                                                                                                       |   97.36 |
|    9 | Eco Circuit                 | Telangana           | Integrated Development of Eco Tourism Circuit in Mahaboobnagar district, Telangana.                                                                               |   91.62 |
|   10 | Wildlife Circuit            | Madhya Pradesh      | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna - Mukundpur-Sanjay-Dubri- Bandhavgarh-Kanha-Mukki- Pench in Madhya Pradesh                                               |   92.22 |
|   11 | Wildlife Circuit            | Assam               | Wildlife Circuit of Assam                                                                                                                                         |   95.67 |
|   12 | North- East India Circuit   | Tripura             | Development of North East Circuit : Agartala - Sipahijala - Melaghar - Udaipur - Amarpur - Tirthamukh - Mandirghat - Dumboor- NarikelKunja - Gandachara - Ambassa |   99.59 |
|   13 | Eco Tourism Circuit         | Mizoram             | Integrated Development of New Eco-Tourism at Thenzawl, Reike & South Zote                                                                                         |   94.91 |
|   14 | Coastal Circuit             | West Bengal         | Development of Beach Circuit - Udaipur - Digha - Shankarpur - Tajpur - Mandarmani - Fraserganj -                                                                  |   85.39 |

|     |                 |              | Bakkhlai -Henry Island                                                                                                                                                                             |         |
|-----|-----------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
| 15. | Coastal Circuit | Puducherry   | Development of Union Territory of Puducherry as Tourist Circuit under 'Swadesh Darshan' Scheme                                                                                                     |   85.28 |
| 16. | Tribal Circuit  | Chhattisgarh | Development of Tribal Tourism Circuit Jashpur- Kunkuri-Mainpat-Ambikapur- Maheshpur-ratanpur-Kurdar- Sarodadadar-Gangrel- Kondagaon- Nathyanawagaon-Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot-Tirthgarh in Chattisgarh |   99.94 |
| 17. | Coastal Circuit | Maharashtra  | Sindhudurg Circuit                                                                                                                                                                                 |   82.76 |
|     |                 |              | Total                                                                                                                                                                                              | 1513.52 |

## PRASAD SCHEME

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | Name of the State & project                                                             | Amount Sanctioned   |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|           | PUNJAB                                                                                  |                     |
| 1.        | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                   | 6.45                |
|           | RAJASTHAN                                                                               |                     |
| 2.        | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                 | 40.44               |
|           | ANDHRA PRADESH                                                                          |                     |
| 3.        | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh as Tourist Destination | 28.36               |
|           | ASSAM                                                                                   |                     |
| 4.        | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati.       | 33.98               |
|           | BIHAR                                                                                   |                     |
| 5.        | Development of Patna Sahib                                                              | 41.54               |
|           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                                           |                     |
| 6.        | Development of Varanasi                                                                 | 20.04               |
|           | UTTARAKHAND                                                                             |                     |
| 7.        | Developmemt of Kedarnath                                                                | 34.78               |
|           | Total                                                                                   | 205.59              |

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