Lok Sabha Question No. 1241 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Development of Tourist Facilities  in Sonbhadra District
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri  Chhotelal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †

## 1241 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST FACILITIES IN SONBHADRA DISTRICT

†1241. SHRI CHHOTELAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any special tourist amenities are proposed to be developed in  the  Sonbhadra  district,  a  prominent  tourist  destination  under Robertsganj Lok Sabha Constituency; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b): Development of tourism amenities at any destination, including in Sonbhadra district, 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  subscheme of SD2.0, 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central  Agenc ies (ACA) for Tourism Infrastructure Development' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies; subject to adherence to  scheme  guidelines,  submission  of  Detailed  Project  Reports  (DPRs), availability of funds, inter-se priority etc.

In  addition,  Government  of  India  under  its  initiative  for  'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)' has also provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects.

Presently there is no new  proposal under consideration for sanctioning of projects in Sonbhadra district under the above mentioned schemes.  Further,  the  details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  aforesaid schemes of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  in  the  state  of  Uttar  Pradesh  are annexed.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . † 1241 ANSWERED ON 08 . 12 . 2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT  OF  TOURIST  FACILITIES  IN  SONBHADRA  DISTRICT RAISED BY SHRI CHHOTELAL

## (i) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Uttar Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                      |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilwastu                                                                                                                                        |               87.89 |
|          2 | Ramayana Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur                                                                                                                                               |               69.45 |
|          3 | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Ahar-Aligarh- Kasganj-Sarosi (Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-Mirzapur-Gorakhpur- Domariyaganj-Basti-Barabanki- Azamgarh-Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur                       |               71.91 |
|          4 | 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 |
|          5 | Heritage Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- MagharDham (SantKabir Nagar)- ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- MahuarshaheedSthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)                          |               36.65 |
|          6 | Ramayana Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Ayodhya                                                                                                                                                                   |              127.21 |

|   7. | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Jewar-Dadri- Sikandrabad-Noida-Khurja-Banda                                                      |   12.03 |
|------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|    8 | Spiritual Circuit 2018-19   | Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj) |    18.3 |

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

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience                  |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|--------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | 2023-24            | Prayagraj     | Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Exp |               14.52 |
|          2 | 2023-24            | Naimisaranya  | Vedic- wellness Experience              |               17.8  |

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

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                         | Category           |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | 2024-25            | Development of Cultural Landscape at Mahoba | Culture & Heritage |               24.98 |

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

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                  |   Sanctioned Amount |
|------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|          1 | 2024-25            | Development of Bateshwar in District- Agra           |               74.05 |
|          2 | 2024-25            | Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti |               80.24 |

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

## (Amount in ₹ Crore)

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

## (vi) Details of Project sanctioned under Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID) Scheme in the State of Uttar Pradesh:

## (Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S. No. | Project Name                                                                                                                                                  | Sanction Year   |   Sanctioned Amount |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Illumination of monuments in Varanasi/Sarnath (Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath Chaukhandi Stupa in Sarnath, Tomb of Lalkan in Sarnath and Man Mahal in Banaras).     | 28-02-2015      |                5.12 |
|        2 | Illumination of three monuments in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh- 1. Dashashwamedh Ghat to Darbhanga Ghat (stretch of 300 m) 2. TulsiManas Mandir 3. Sarnath Museum | 21-12-2017      |                2.94 |
|        3 | Rai-Bareilly Railway Station                                                                                                                                  | 30-07-2013      |                4.44 |
|        4 | Agra Cantt. Railway Station                                                                                                                                   | 30-07-2013      |                5.05 |

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