(a) whether the Government has established religion based tourism circuits in various parts of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh; and
(c) the infrastructure/tourism facilities set up in those religion based tourism circuits and the budgetary allocations made therefor, circuit-wise and State/UT-wise including Maharashtra?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a)&(b): The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, including the places of religion based tourism circuits in various parts of the country, for tourism projects in consultation with them subject to availability of funds, inter-se priority, liquidation of pending utilization certificates and adherence to the scheme guidelines.
For development of tourism infrastructure in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has introduced two new schemes in 2014-15 i.e. PRASAD- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive and Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits. Under PRASAD thirteen cities have been identified for development initially, namely: Amritsar, Ajmer, Dwaraka, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Amaravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Kedarnath, Kamakhya and Patna. Under Swadesh Darshan scheme also, twelve thematic circuits have been identified initially, namely: North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit & Ramayana Circuit.
(c): The details of the budgetary allocations made to various States/Union Territories including Maharashtra till date for religion based tourism circuits/places are annexed.
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