(a) the salient features of PRASAD scheme;
(b) the locations cities covered under the scheme as on date, State/UT-wise including Gujarat;
(c) whether the Government has received proposals from some other States for inclusion/to be covered under the scheme; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)
(a) & (b): Ministry of Tourism launched the plan scheme “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive” (PRASAD) {now “Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive” (PRASHAD) with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage/heritage destinations. The scheme aims at infrastructure development such as development/up-gradation of destination entry points viz. passenger terminals (of road, rail and water transport), basic conveniences like tourism Information/Interpretation Centers with ATM/Money exchange counters, improvement of road connectivity (last mile connectivity), procurement of equipment for eco-friendly modes of transport and equipment for tourist activities such as Light & Sound Show, water/adventure sports, renewable sources of energy for tourist infrastructure, parking facilities, toilets, cloak room facilities, waiting rooms, construction of craft haats/bazars/souvenir shops/cafeteria, rain shelters, watch towers, first aid centers, improvement in communication through establishing telephone booths, mobile services, internet connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot, Shoreline development & rejuvenation of natural water bodies etc.
The total number of sites identified under this scheme at present are 25. These are Amaravati, Srisailam and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), Dwarka and Somnath (Gujarat), Hazratbal and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir), Deogarh (Jharkhand), Guruvayoor (Kerala), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu), Varanasi, Ayodhya and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Badrinath and Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Belur (West Bengal).
(c) & (d): Ministry of Tourism has received the following proposals from State Governments/Union Territories for consideration under PRASHAD Scheme.
(i) Development of Srirangapatna, District Mandya, Karnataka.
(ii) Development of Annvaram, District East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh.
(iii) Development of Amber and Pushkar, Rajasthan.
Approval to the above proposals is subject to availability of funds, liquidation of pending utilization certificate against the fund released earlier and adherence to the guidelines for the scheme.
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