Lok Sabha Question No. 191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Development of Tourism in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.191

## ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR

## 191. DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, an important historical, cultural and touristic centre of Maharashtra, lacks adequate infrastructure facilities for tourists, resulting in inconvenience to domestic and foreign visitors;
- (b) if  so,  whether the Government proposes to prepare and implement a comprehensive  plan  for  upgrading  basic  amenities  such  as  clean drinking  water,  toilet  and  drainage  systems,  electricity,  safe  access roads, cooking and accommodation facilities and tourist information/guide  centres  at  various  sites  under  the  control  of  the Archaeological Department; and
- (c) whether, the Government proposes to take urgent steps in view of the forthcoming  Mahakumbh  Mela  in  Nashik  in  2027  for  the  holistic development of tourist destinations in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to cater to the expected rise in tourist footfall?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Tourism recognizes the importance of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as an important historical, cultural and touristic  centre  of  Maharashtra.    While    development  and  promotion  of tourism destinations and products including  comprehensive  planning for upgrading  basic  amenities at  various  tourist  destinations is primarily undertaken  by  the  concerned  State  Governments  (SGs)/Union  Territory Administrations (UTAs)/ concerned agency, the Ministry of Tourism  through its schemes    complements  the  efforts  of tourism infrastructure development and creating experiences by providing  financial  assistance to the State  Governments/UT Administrations. This assistance is provided on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned SGs/UTAs/ concerned agency under the relevant schemes in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government instructions, availability of funds etc. The Ministry launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2014-15 with the idea to  develop  tourism  infrastructure  under  identified  thematic  circuits  and sanctioned 76  projects in the country. The scheme has now been  revamped as  Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective  to  develop  sustainable and  responsible  tourism destinations and  the Ministry has  sanctioned  53 projects  under this  initiative in the country.  Further, Ministry has also sanctioned projects under 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)', a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme. In addition, the 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 one project in Nashik, Maharashtra, 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. While  receiving  and  sanctioning  of  projects  for  tourism  infrastructure development  in  the  country  under  different  schemes  of  the  Ministry  of Tourism is a continuous process, there is no new proposal presently under consideration  of  the  Ministry  for  sanctioning  of  projects  in  Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, PRASHAD, CBDD and SASCI schemes in Maharashtra is annexed.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS ( a ) TO ( c ) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . 191 ANSWERED ON 01 . 12 . 2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR RAISED BY DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE.

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S . No . | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                   |   Sanctioned Cost |
|------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|          1 | Coastal Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav |             19.06 |
|          2 | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19 | Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Telankhandi- Girad                                |             45.47 |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience                     |   Sanctioned Cost |
|------------|--------------------|---------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|          1 | 2023-24            | Pune          | Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park- Phase 3 |             76.22 |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project            | Category           |   Sanctioned Cost |
|------------|--------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------|
|          1 | 2024-25            | Development of Ahmednagar Fort | Culture & Heritage |                25 |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

| S . No .   | Year of   | Name of the Project   | Sanctioned   |
|------------|-----------|-----------------------|--------------|
| S . No .   | Sanction  |                       | Cost         |

|   1. | 2024-25   | INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg   |   46.91 |
|------|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|    2 | 2024-25   | Development of RAM-KAL PATH in Nashik                                                |   99.14 |

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

(Amount in ₹Crore)

|   S. No. | Project Name                         | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount |
|----------|--------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik | 2017-18         |             45.41 |

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