Lok Sabha Question No. 78 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-11-30
Subject: Creation of various Tourist Circuits
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA, P. C. MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†78 ANSWERED ON 30.11.2015

## CREATION OF VARIOUS TOURIST CIRCUITS

- †78.  SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:
- SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Governments for the development of new tourist circuits;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the Government thereon;
- (c) the funds allocated and expenditure incurred by Government in this regard during the last three years;
- the
- (d) whether a decision to constitute advisory committee has been taken to properly operate these circuits; and
- (e) if so, the details of the process for the selection of members in the advisory committee?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):    The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  Swadesh Darshan scheme in the year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based  tourist  circuits on  the  principles of high  tourist value, competitiveness  and  sustainability  in  an  integrated  manner  by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities.  The  Ministry  has  initially  identified  following  twelve thematic  circuits  for  development  under  the  scheme:  North-East India  Circuit,  Buddhist  Circuit,  Himalayan  Circuit,  Coastal  Circuit, Krishna  Circuit,  Desert  Circuit,  Tribal  Circuit,  Eco  Circuit,  Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and  Ramayana Circuit.

(c): The  details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme during 2014-15 and 2015-16 are annexed.

(d) and (e): As  per  the  scheme  guidelines  a  National  Steering Committee (NSC) has been constituted to steer the Mission objectives  and  vision  of  the  scheme.  The  NSC  is  chaired  by  the Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and has concerned Secretaries from 13 Ministries  of  the  Government  of  India  as  members.  The  NSC enunciates the vision and chalk out the road map for the scheme, oversee all operations, steer, review and monitor overall performance  of  the  scheme  and  reviews  the      proposed/ongoing projects periodically.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+78 ANSWERED ON 30.11.2015 REGARDING CREATION OF VARIOUS TOURIST CIRCUITS

## Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan during 2014-15 (Rs. in Crores)

| Sl. No.   | Circuit             | Name of the Project                                                                                          |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|-----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 1.        | North- East Circuit | Development of Mega Circuit at Bhalukpong- Bomdila and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh                           |             50    |
| 2.        | Buddhist Circuit    | Construction of Cultural Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar              |             33.17 |
| 3.        | Coastal Circuit     | Development of Kakinada Hope Island Konaseema as World Class Coastal & Eco Tourism Circuit in Andhra Pradesh |             69.83 |
|           |                     | Total                                                                                                        |            153    |

## Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan during 2015-16

(Rs. In Crore)

| Sl. No.   | Circuit             | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|-----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 1.        | North- East Circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal-Moirang- Khongjom-Moreh.                                                                                                                                                                       |             89.66 |
| 2.        | North- East Circuit | 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-Singtam (exit) in Sikkim. |             98.04 |
| 3.        | Eco Circuit         | 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.        | Desert Circuit      | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations under Desert Circuit in Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                                                                                                                           |             63.96 |
| 5.        | Tribal Circuit      | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha, Nagaland                                                                                                                                                                                     |             97.36 |
|           |                     | Total                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |            429.39 |

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