(a) whether the Government has recently identified and included some cities of historical importance from various States of the country to develop as world class tourist destinations;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal;
(c) the funds allocated and expenditure incurred by the Government in this regard during the last three years, year-wise; and
(d) the time by which the said places are likely to be developed as world class destinations?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) to (d): For development of tourism infrastructure in the country the Ministry of Tourism has launched two plan schemes in 2014-15 viz. PRASAD- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive and Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits.
Under PRASAD scheme, 23 sites of religious significance have been identified for development in India namely Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Dwarka (Gujarat), Deoghar (Jharkhand), Belur (West Bengal), Gaya (Bihar), Guruvayoor (Kerala), Hazratbal (Jammu & Kashmir), Kamakhya (Assam), Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Patna (Bihar), Puri (Odisha), Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Somnath (Gujarat), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu).
Under Swadesh Darshan scheme thirteen thematic circuits have been identified for development 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 and Heritage Circuit.
The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred under both the Schemes since its launch are as under:
<pre>
Swadesh Darhan Scheme: (Rs. in Crore)
Sr. No. Year Budget allocated Expenditure incurred
1 2014-15 20.00 20.00
2 2015-16 310.00 309.55
3 2016-17 706.35 691.97(*)
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<pre>
PRASAD Scheme: (Rs. in Crore)
Sr. No. Year Budget allocated Expenditure incurred
1 2014-15 15.60 15.60
2 2015-16 40.00 40.00
3 2016-17 100.00 46.24(*)
(*)As on 25.11.2016.
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The completion time for the projects sanctioned under above schemes varies from 18 to 36 months.
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