Parliament Question: Allocation of funds for Tourist Amenities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3517 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR TOURIST AMENITIES 3517. SHRI RAJU BISTA: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the details of funds allocated, sanctioned and utilized for upgrading tourist amenities, view- points, pedestrian tracks and other tourist amenities in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts during the last three years; and (b) the details of total number of village clusters and rural pockets identified for development under the Vibrant Villages Programme in the border areas of the said districts? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (b): Development, promotion and upgradation of tourism destinations and products, including tourist amenities, view-points, pedestrian tracks and other tourist amenities, is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Governments (SG)/Union Territory Administrations (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 sub-scheme of SD2.0 – and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations; subject to adherence to scheme guidelines, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability of funds, Government directions, inter-se priority etc. In addition, Government of India under its initiative for ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of IconicTourist Centres to Global Scale’ scheme, has also provided financial assistance in the year 2024-25 to the States for development of tourism projects. Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing the Vibrant Villages Prgoramme-I (VVP-I) for comprehensive development of Villages. Under the programme, 662 villages have been identified for priority development and 1,248 projects have been sanctioned by MHA with an outlay of Rs.3,065.32 Crore, of which 316 projects have been completed. Further, Vibrant Village Programme is one of the four categories — along with Culture & Heritage, Spiritual Tourism, and Ecotourism & Amrit Dharohar Sites — under 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) – a sub- scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme'. CBDD initiative has a primary objective to undertake holistic development of destinations to enhance tourist experience and to transform tourist destinations as sustainable and responsible destinations. Details of the projects sanctioned under Vibrant Village Programme category of CBDD is as under: Sl. State/UT Project Name Sanctioned No. Cost (in ₹ Crore) 1. Arunachal Kibitho Frontier Tourism – Gateway to 4.96 Pradesh Serenity 2. Himachal Tourism Infrastructure Development at 4.96 Pradesh Rakcham – Vibrant Village 3. Sikkim Echoes of Valor: The Gnathang Valley 5.00 Experience 4. Uttarakhand Mana Haat 4.99 5. Uttarakhand Jadung Festive Ground 4.99 Sanctioning of project under the above scheme is a continuous process. No project has been sanctioned specifically in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, West Bengal, under the Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, CBDD, SASCI and PRASHAD schemes during the last three years. However, details of the projects sanctioned under the aforesaid schemes in the State of West Bengal in as under:S. Scheme Project Sanction Sanction Amount Amount Status No Name Year Cost Authorized Utilized . 1 Swadesh Developmen 2015- 67.99 65.07 65.07 Physically Darshan t of Beach 16 Complete Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani -Fraserganj- Bakkhlai- HenryIsland 2. PRASHAD Development 2016- 30.03 28.30 23.39 Physically of Belur Math 17 Complete ******