Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Tourism issued operational guidelines under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme to develop iconic tourist centers. 87 projects were received, and 40 were sanctioned for ₹3295.76 Crore with 100% central funding. The states shared potential Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. The carrying capacity of the approved tourist centers was assessed by the State Governments.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Scheme Overview:**
* The scheme is named "Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)."
* It aims to develop iconic tourist centers to global scale.
* **Project Details:**
* 87 projects were received from states.
* 40 projects were sanctioned.
* Total sanctioned amount is ₹3295.76 Crore.
* Funding is 100% central.
* **Public Private Partnership (PPP):**
* The Ministry of Tourism does not directly undertake PPP projects.
* States were required to share potential PPP projects as part of the evaluation criteria.
* The implementation and monitoring of PPP projects are the responsibility of the respective State Governments.
* **Tourist Carrying Capacity:**
* State Governments were advised to calculate the final carrying capacity as part of its Detailed Project Report (DPR).
* The sanctioned project-wise carrying capacity details submitted by the State Governments are annexed.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring PPP projects; required to calculate carrying capacity.
* Action Required: Implement and monitor PPP projects; assess the physical carrying capacity and limiting factors of tourist destinations as part of DPR.
* **Ministry of Tourism:**
* Impact: Provides central funding and evaluates project proposals; issues operational guidelines.
* Action Required: Continue evaluating project proposals and disbursing funds as per guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in India.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Tourism of India.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment SASCI Scheme: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism to provide financial assistance to states for capital investment in tourism infrastructure.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A centrally sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in India.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India that has projects sanctioned under the SASCI scheme.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India that has projects sanctioned under the SASCI scheme.
Public Private Partnership PPP: A collaborative model for developing projects, involving both public and private sector entities.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question about tourism development was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2370
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
DEVELOPMENT OF ICONIC TOURIST CENTRES TO GLOBAL SCALE
2370. SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:
SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the total number of proposals received and approved
under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment
(SASCI) Scheme – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global
Scale, State-wise;
(b) the details of the funds sanctioned and disbursed under the said
scheme for approved tourist centres along with the Central and State
share, location-wise;
(c) the details of the number of projects being developed on Public
Private Partnership (PPP) basis, along with the Central and State
share, location-wise; and
(d) the details of the total tourist carrying capacity of the approved
tourist centres, location-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): 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). Accordingly, 87 projects were received from the
States on the online portal and 40 projects were sanctioned under the
scheme for ₹3295.76 Crore with 100% central funding.
Ministry of Tourism does not directly undertake Public Private Partnership
(PPP) projects under its current centrally sponsored schemes including
Swadesh Darshan Scheme, which are 100% funded by the Central
Government.However, the Ministry of Tourism as part of DoE’s Scheme - SASCI (Special
Assistance to State for Capital Investment- Creating Iconic Tourist
Centres), evaluated the project proposals submitted by the state
governments. As part of this scheme, to encourage private sector
participation in the tourism sector, the states were required to share
potential PPP projects at selected tourism destinations as part of the
evaluation criteria. These projects are envisaged to be implemented and
monitored by the respective State Governments.
Under SASCI scheme, the Ministry advised the State Governments to
calculate the final carrying capacity after assessing the physical carrying
capacity and limiting factors as part of its DPR. The details of the projects
sanctioned under SASCI scheme along with details of fund disbursal and
estimated carrying capacity details as submitted by the State
Governments in their DPR is annexed.
*****ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.2370 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025 REGARDING
DEVELOPMENT OF ICONIC TOURIST CENTRES TO GLOBAL SCALE
RAISED BY SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI AND SHRI MOHIBBULLAH
Details of the projects sanctioned under SASCI scheme along with details
of fund disbursal and the sanctioned project-wise carrying capacity details
submitted by the State Governments:-
S. State Destination Name of the Estimated Sanctioned Fund
No. Experience Tourist Cost release
carrying (in ₹ Crore) Status
Capacity (in ₹
Crore)
1 Andhra Gandikota Enriching the 25,600 77.91 113.75
Pradesh Fort and tourists/
Gorge day
Experience
2 Andhra Rajamahend Akhanda 20,493 94.44
Pradesh ravaram Godavari: tourists/
(Havelock day
Bridge &
Pushkar
Ghat)
3 Arunachal Pasighat Siang 9,519 46.48 30.68
Pradesh Adventure & tourists/
Eco-Retreat day
4 Assam Guwahati Assam State 18,420 97.12 126.63
Zoo Cum tourists/
Botanical day
Garden
5 Assam Sivasagar Beautification 6,217 94.76
of Rang Ghar tourists/
day
6 Bihar Karamchat Karamchat 33055 49.51 97.10
Eco-Tourism tourists/
and day
Adventure
Hub
7 Bihar Saharsa Development 32,000 97.61
of tourists/Matsyagandh day
a Lake
8 Chhattisgarh Raipur Chitrotpala 17,850 95.79 97.46
Film City tourists/
day
9 Chhattisgarh Raipur Tribal & 6,855 51.87
Cultural tourists/
Convention day
Centre
10 Goa Ponda Chhatrapati 988 97.46 124.20
Shivaji tourists/
Maharaj day
Museum,
Ponda
11 Goa Porvorim Proposed 6,636 90.74
Townsquare tourists/
Porvorim day
12 Gujarat Dhordo Tented City 6,500 51.56 99.70
and tourists/
Convention day
Centre,
Dhordo
13 Gujarat Porbandar Ecotourism 5,067 99.5
Destination at tourists/
Kerly day
(Mokarsagar)
14 Jharkhand Koderma Eco-Tourism 1,800 34.87 23.00
Development tourists/
of Tilaiyya day
15 Karnataka Belgavi Development Expected 100 131.45
of Savadatti footfall
Yallammagud 7,09,66,54
da 6 annually
by 2030
16 Karnataka Bengaluru Ecotourism & 26,946 99.17
Cultural Hub tourists/
at Roerich day
and Devika
Rani Estate
Tataguni
17 Kerala Kollam Ashtamudi 7,737 59.71 102.32
Biodiversity tourists/
and Eco- dayrecreational
Hub
18 Kerala Sargaalaya Sargaalaya: 30,026 95.34
Global tourists/
Gateway to day
Malabar's
Cultural
Crucible
19 Madhya Bhopal International 1,000 99.38 131.54
Pradesh Convention visitors/
Centre for day
MICE
20 Madhya Orchha Orchha A 3,01,235 99.92
Pradesh Medieval tourists
Splendour
21 Maharashtra Nashik RAM-KAL Tentativel 99.14 96.38
PATH y 15000-
18000/ day
in non-
peak
season
Tentativel
y
1,00,000/
day in
peak
season
22 Maharashtra Sindhudurg Ex-INS Guldar 2,772 46.91
Underwater diver-
Museum, visits/ day
Artificial
Reef, and
Submarine
Tourism
23 Manipur Loktak Loktak Lake 6,000 89.48 59.06
Experience visitors/
day
24 Meghalaya Shillong MICE 14,700 99.27 131.04
Infrastructure tourists/
at Mawkhanu day
25 Meghalaya Shillong Re- 10,000 99.27
development tourists/of Umiam day
Lake
26 Odisha Hirakud Development 22,057 99.9 131.93
of Hirakud tourists/
day
27 Odisha Satkosia Development 19,880 99.99
of Satkosia tourists/
day
28 Punjab SBS Nagar Development 18,750 53.45 35.28
of Heritage tourists/
Street day
29 Rajasthan Jaipur Development 11,250 49.31 96.31
at Amber- tourists/
Nahargarh day
and
Surrounding
Area
30 Rajasthan Jaipur Development 7,500 96.61
at Jal Mahal tourists/
day
31 Sikkim Namchi Skywalk, 4,320 97.37 109.27
Bhaleydhunga tourists/
, Yangang day
32 Sikkim Nathula Nathula 7,200 68.19
Border tourists/
Experience day
33 Tamil Nadu Mamallapur Nandavanam 7,500 99.67 112.12
am Heritage Park tourists/
day
34 Tamil Nadu Ooty Garden of 3,994 70.23
flowers at tourists
Devala /day
35 Telangana Ramappa Ramappa i. Year 1 73.74 93.60
Region (post-
Sustainable develop
Tourism ment)-
Circuit 41, 304
tourists
/ day
ii. Year 10
(post-
develop
ment)-89,101
tourists
/ day
36 Telangana Somasilla Wellness & iii. Eegalap 68.1
Spiritual enta
Retreat Arrival
Nallamala Area-
695
tourists
/ day
iv. Eegalap
enta
River
Curise
Node-
799
tourists
/ day
v. Chench
u
Experie
nce
Centre-
597
tourists
/ day
vi. Eagalap
enta
Promen
ade-
1,260
tourists
/ day
vii. Somasil
a Akasa
Retreat-
506
tourists
/ day
37 Tripura Gomati 51 Shakti 5,755 97.7 64.47
Peethas Park tourist/
at Banduar day
38 Uttar Bateshwar Development 2,15,960 74.05 101.82Pradesh of Bateshwar tourists/
day
39 Uttar Shrawasti Integrated 1,00,000 80.24
Pradesh Buddhist tourists/
Tourism day
Development
40 Uttarakhand Rishikesh Iconic City 14,400 100 66
Rishikesh: tourists/
Rafting Base day
Station
Total 3295.76 2175.11
*****