**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2478, answered on December 15, 2025, regarding the development of a Coastal Circuit in Kerala. It outlines the Government's stance on the development of tourism, particularly in Kerala, through various schemes. The Minister of Tourism provides details of financial assistance extended for tourism infrastructure development, subject to specific conditions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government's Approach:**
* The identification and development of tourist destinations, including coastal circuits, are primarily undertaken by State Governments (SG) and Union Territory Administrations (UTA).
* The Ministry of Tourism complements these efforts through central sector schemes.
* **Central Sector Schemes:**
* **Swadesh Darshan (SD):** Revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, focusing on sustainable and responsible tourism development.
* **Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD):** A sub-scheme of SD2.0
* **Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)**
* **Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID):** Extends financial assistance for tourism infrastructure.
* **Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI):** Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale
* **Conditions for Financial Assistance:**
* Adherence to scheme guidelines.
* Submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
* Availability of funds.
* Inter-se priority.
* **Projects Sanctioned Under Various Schemes in Kerala** (See Annexure):
* Swadesh Darshan Scheme
* Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme
* Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme
* Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme
* Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme
* Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID) Scheme
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government (SG) / Union Territory Administration (UTA)**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for identifying and developing tourist destinations, including coastal circuits.
* **Action Required:** Prepare and submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), adhere to scheme guidelines to avail financial assistance.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** Complements State Government efforts by extending financial assistance through various central sector schemes.
* **Action Required:** Monitor adherence to scheme guidelines, review DPRs, and allocate funds based on availability and priority.
**Stakeholder: Central Agencies**
* **Impact:** Eligible to receive assistance for tourism infrastructure development through the ACATID scheme.
* **Action Required:** Prepare and submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), adhere to scheme guidelines to avail financial assistance.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The primary government body overseeing the listed tourism schemes and projects.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism focused on developing tourism circuits. Later revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
Kerala: The state where the coastal circuit development and related tourism projects are proposed and sanctioned.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism focusing on the development of pilgrimage destinations.
Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID): A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for providing financial assistance to central agencies to improve tourism infrastructure.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2478
ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL CIRCUIT IN KERALA
2478. DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is likely to consider the development of a
Kerala Coastal circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is likely to add schemes for the
development of Coastal Communities in the district of Malappuram,
Kerala to be included in the Coastal Circuit development; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): Identification and development of various tourist destinations
including coastal circuit are primarily undertaken by the concerned State
Government (SG) / Union Territory Administration (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, ‘Pilgrimage
Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and
‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development
(ACATID)’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development
by extending financial assistance to the State Governments / UT
Administrations /Central Agencies; subject to adherence to scheme
guidelines, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability of
funds, inter-se priority etc.In addition, Government of India under its initiative for ‘Special
Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)-Development of
Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ has also provided financial
assistance to the States for development of tourism projects.
Ministry of Tourism revamped the Swadesh Darshan scheme as
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and
responsible tourism destinations in the country, adopting a destination
and tourist-centric approach in place of the earlier circuit-based
framework.
The details of the projects sanctioned under aforesaid schemes of
the Ministry of Tourism in the state of Kerala is annexed.
*****ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO .2478 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 REGARDING
DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL CIRCUIT IN KERALA RAISED BY DR. M P
ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI
(i) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the
State of Kerala:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S . Circuit / Name of the Project Sanctioned
No. Sanction Amount
Year
1. Eco Circuit Development of Pathanamthitta- 64.08
2015-16 Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady
2. Spiritual Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- 46.54
Circuit Pampa-Sannidhanam
2016-17
3. Spiritual Development of SreePadmanabha 78.08
Circuit Arnamula
2016-17
4. Rural Circuit Development of Malanad Malabar 57.35
2018-19 Cruise Tourism Project
5. Spiritual Development SivagiriSree Narayana 66.42
Circuit Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram-
2018-19 Kunnumpara SreeSubrahmania-
Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana
Gurukulam
(ii) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme in
the State of Kerala:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S . Year of Destination Name of the Experience Sanctioned
No. Sanction Amount
1. 2023-24 Kumarakom Kumarakom Bird 13.81
Sanctuary Experience2. 2024-25 Alappuzha Alappuzha: A Global Water 93.18
Wonderland
3. 2024-25 Malampuzha Enhancement of Tourist 75.87
Experience at Malampuzha
Garden and Leisure Park
(iii) Details of Project sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination
Development (CBDD) Scheme in the State of Kerala:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S.No. Year of Name of the Project Category Sanctioned
Sanction Amount
1. Thalassery: The Spiritual Spiritual
2024-25 25.00
Nexus Tourism
2. Culture &
2024-25 Varkala- Dakshin Kashi 25.00
Heritage
(iv) Details of Project sanctioned under Special Assistance to States for
Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme in the State of Kerala:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S. Year of Name of the Project Sanctioned
No. Sanction Amount
1. 2024-25 Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco- 59.71
recreational Hub in Kollam
2. 2024-25 Global Gateway to Malabar's Cultural 95.34
Crucible in Sargaalayaa
(v) Details of Project sanctioned under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme in the State of
Kerala:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S. No. Project Name Sanction Year Sanction Amount
1. Development at Guruvayur
2016-17 45.19
Temple(vi) Details of Project sanctioned under Assistance to Central Agencies
for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID) Scheme in the State of
Kerala:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S. Sanction Sanction
Project Name
No. Year Amount
1. Development of a 28-10-2016 9.01
Walkway/Promenade on Willingdon
Island, Cochin, Kerala
2. Central Financial Assistance for 31-03-2017 21.41
upgrading of Births & Backup area
of Ernakulam Wharf
3. Developing infrastructure at 12-12-2018 1.20
Cochin Port Cruise Terminal.
4. Creation of additional tourism 12-12-2018 4.66
facilities at the Cochin Port Trust
Walkway
5. Development of Additional 13-12-2019 10.29
infrastructure in the new Cochin
Port Trust Terminal
6. Project for Up-gradation of Golf 31-03-2017 24.65
Course at SAI Trivandrum Golf
Club by the Sports Authority of
India
7. Thiruvananthapuram Central 30-07-2013 5.98
station (TVC)
******