**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism has issued operational guidelines for the Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, aiming to develop iconic tourist centres and boost local economies. This scheme has sanctioned 40 projects across various states for the financial year 2024-25, with a total central funding of ₹3295.76 Crore.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Objective:** The SASCI scheme aims to develop iconic tourist centres, foster local economic growth, and create employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects.
* **Project Selection Criteria:** Proposals were evaluated based on parameters such as site connectivity, existing tourism ecosystem, carrying capacity, utility services, and anticipated impact, including increased tourist footfall, spending, and private investment.
* **Funding and Sanction:** A total of 40 projects were sanctioned by the Government of India for the financial year 2024-25, with 100% central funding.
* **Total Sanctioned Amount:** The total financial assistance allocated for these projects is ₹3295.76 Crore.
* **Project Scope:** The sanctioned projects encompass a variety of tourism development initiatives, including adventure and eco-retreats, zoological gardens, heritage site beautification, nature parks, museums, film cities, convention centres, and spiritual retreats.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments (SGs) / Union Territory Administrations (UTAs)**
* **Impact:** SGs/UTAs are responsible for the development and promotion of tourism, including employment generation. They are the recipients of the financial assistance and will implement the sanctioned projects.
* **Action Required:** SGs/UTAs are expected to undertake the development and promotion activities for the sanctioned iconic tourist centres as per the scheme guidelines.
**Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** The Ministry of Tourism is the issuing authority for the operational guidelines and has sanctioned the projects under the SASCI scheme.
* **Action Required:** The Ministry of Tourism will oversee the implementation of the scheme and monitor the progress of the sanctioned projects.
**Local Economies and Communities**
* **Impact:** The scheme is designed to boost local economies, create employment opportunities, and increase tourist footfall and spending in the designated areas.
* **Action Required:** While not explicitly stated as an action, local economies and communities will benefit from the economic stimulus and job creation resulting from the projects.
**Tourists**
* **Impact:** Tourists will benefit from the development of new and enhanced iconic tourist destinations, offering improved infrastructure and experiences.
* **Action Required:** Tourists are the intended beneficiaries and will experience the outcomes of the developed tourism projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme: A scheme initiated by the Ministry of Tourism to develop iconic tourist centers, aiming for local economic growth and employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects.
Ministry of Tourism: The government body responsible for issuing operational guidelines and sanctioning projects under the SASCI scheme.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Provided information regarding the SASCI scheme and sanctioned projects in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs): Reports submitted by states outlining project proposals, which are examined based on parameters like connectivity, existing tourism ecosystem, and projected impact.
Lok Sabha: The legislative body where the information about the SASCI scheme and its sanctioned projects was presented.
Ministry of Tourism
DEVELOPMENT OF DESTINATIONS UNDER
SASCI
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 5:13PM by PIB Delhi
Development and promotion of tourism including assessment of employment generation is primarily
undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). With the aim
to develop iconic tourist centres in the country, the Ministry of Tourism issued operational guidelines
along with detailed project report template under Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment
(SASCI) scheme. The objective of the scheme envisages the local economy growth and creation of
employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects.
As per the guidelines, the proposals were invited from the SGs for considering financial assistance to the
States under the scheme. The parameters formulated for examining the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs)
submitted by the States covered connectivity to the site, existing tourism eco-system at site/destination,
carrying capacity, availability of utility services, project impact and value envisaged which included
expected increase in tourist footfall, increase tourist spend, new employment opportunities, attracting
private investment etc. Accordingly, 40 projects including at culturally important sites were sanctioned by
the Government of India under the scheme for ₹3295.76 Crore in the financial year 2024-25 with 100%
central funding and the details of these projects is annexed.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha today
***
M Annadurai
ANNEXURE
List of projects sanctioned in 2024-25 under Special assistance to states for capital investment
(SASCI Scheme) - Development of iconic tourist centres to global scale:
S. No. State Year of Name of the Project Sanctioned
Sanction Cost
(₹ Crore)
1. Andhra Pradesh 2024-25 Enriching the Fort and Gorge Experience in 77.91
Gandikota
2. Andhra Pradesh 2024-25 Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok Bridge & 94.44
Pushkar Ghat) in Raja Mahendravaram3. Arunachal 2024-25 Siang Adventure & Eco-Retreat in Pasighat 46.48
Pradesh
4. Assam 2024-25 Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden in 97.12
Guwahati
5. Assam 2024-25 Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar 94.76
6. Bihar 2024-25 Development of Matsyagandha Lake in 97.61
Saharsa
7. Bihar 2024-25 Karamchat Eco-Tourism and Adventure 49.51
Hub in Karamchat
8. Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Development of Chitrotpala Film City in 95.79
Raipur
9. Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Development of Tribal & Cultural 51.87
Convention Centre in Raipur
10. Goa 2024-25 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in 97.46
Ponda
11. Goa 2024-25 Townsquare in Porvorim 90.74
12. Gujarat 2024-25 Ecotourism Destination at Kerly 99.50
(Mokarsagar) in Porbandar
13. Gujarat 2024-25 Tented City and Convention Centre in 51.56
Dhordo
14. Jharkhand 2024-25 Eco-Tourism Development of Tilaiyya” in 34.87
Koderma
15. Karnataka 2024-25 Ecotourism & Cultural Hub at Roerich and 99.17
Devika Rani Estate Tataguni in Bengaluru
16. Karnataka 2024-25 Development of Savadatti Yallammagudda 100.00
in Belgavi
17. Kerala 2024-25 Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco- 59.71
recreational Hub in Kollam
18. Kerala 2024-25 Global Gateway to Malabar's Cultural 95.34
Crucible in Sargaalayaa19. Madhya 2024-25 Orchha A Medieval Splendour in Orchha 99.92
Pradesh
20. Madhya 2024-25 International Convention Centre for MICE 99.38
Pradesh in Bhopal
21. Maharashtra 2024-25 INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial 46.91
Reef, and submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg
22. Maharashtra 2024-25 Development of RAM-KAL PATH in 99.14
Nashik
23. Manipur 2024-25 Loktak Lake Experience in Loktak 89.48
24. Meghalaya 2024-25 MICE Infrastructure in Mawkhanu 99.27
25. Meghalaya 2024-25 Redevelopment of Umiam Lake in Shillong 99.27
26. Odisha 2024-25 Development of Hirakund 99.90
27. Odisha 2024-25 Development of Satkosia 99.99
28. Punjab 2024-25 Development of Heritage Street as a tribute 53.45
to Shaheed-e-Azam, Sardar Bhaghat Singh
at Khatkar Kalan in SBS Nagar
29. Rajasthan 2024-25 Development at Amber-Nahargarh and 49.31
Surrounding Area in Jaipur
30. Rajasthan 2024-25 Development at Jal Mahal in Jaipur 96.61
31. Sikkim 2024-25 Skywalk, Bhaleydhunga, Yangang in 97.37
Namchi
32. Sikkim 2024-25 Border Experience in Nathula 68.19
33. Tamil Nadu 2024-25 Development of Nandavanam Heritage Park 99.67
in Mammallapuram
34. Tamil Nadu 2024-25 Eco Park at Race Course in Ooty 70.23
35. Telangana 2024-25 Ramappa Region Sustainable Tourism 73.74
Circuit in Ramappa36. Telangana 2024-25 Somasilla Wellness & Spiritual Retreat in 68.10
Nallamala
37. Tripura 2024-25 Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar in Gomati 97.70
38. Uttar Pradesh 2024-25 Development of Bateshwar in District-Agra 74.05
39. Uttar Pradesh 2024-25 Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development 80.24
in Shrawasti
40. Uttarakhand 2024-25 Iconic City Rishikesh: Rafting Base Station 100.00
in Rishikesh
Total 3295.76
******
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