Parliament Question: Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale Initiative

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*315 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 DEVELOPMENT OF ICONIC TOURIST CENTRES TO GLOBAL SCALE INITIATIVE *315. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any review of the implementation of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale initiative, if so, the details and key findings thereof; (b) the institutional framework adopted for identification, selection, appraisal, implementation and monitoring of projects sanctioned under the said initiative across the country, State/UT-wise, particularly in Jharkhand; (c) the details of projects approved under the said initiative, including funds allocated, present status of implementation and expected timelines for completion, State/UT-wise; (d) whether the Government has received any proposals from the State Government of Karnataka under the said initiative, if so, the details thereof, including the status of such proposals;(e) whether any iconic tourist destinations in Karnataka, including Bengaluru, have been identified or are under consideration for development under the initiative, if so, the details thereof; (f) whether the Government has undertaken measures to ensure convergence of tourism infrastructure, visitor amenities, heritage conservation, environmental sustainability, connectivity and local economic development under the sanctioned projects, if so, the details thereof; and (g) the details of mechanism adopted to assess the impact of the said initiative on tourism growth, employment generation and regional development? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (g): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (G) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*315 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF ICONIC TOURIST CENTRES TO GLOBAL SCALE INITIATIVE RAISED BY SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY AND SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB (a) to (g): 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) Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale initiative scheme. As per the guidelines, the proposals were invited from the State Governments 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 were sanctioned across 23 States in the country including two projects in the state of Karnataka 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. Further, Department of Expenditure amended SASCI guidelines for 2025- 26 and as per amended guidelines, States which did not avail funds under Part- III of SASCI 2024-25 are eligible to avail Special Assistance of not more than Rs.250 crores for tourism projects under Part-II of SASCI 2025-26. As peramended guidelines, Special Assistance of Rs.250 crores have been sanctioned and released each to Nagaland, Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh for tourism projects under Part-II of SASCI 2025-26 and the details of sanction is also annexed. The projects sanctioned under the SASCI are regularly monitored at various levels. The Guidelines for SASCI, includes National Institutional Framework comprising of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC), Mission Directorate (MD) etc. and State Institutional Framework. The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) and Mission Directorate (MD) includes representatives of the Ministries/Departments concerned with Culture, Housing and Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation, Road Transport and Highways, Ports, Environment and Forests, Rural Development, Railways and the Archaeological Survey of India, among others, to facilitate coordinated development. Project DPRs are also required to incorporate the applicable statutory clearances, carrying-capacity considerations, stakeholder consultations and sustainable operation and maintenance arrangements. The Ministry has also developed a Program Management Information System (PMIS) for monitoring of its destination development related schemes as a unified digital platform to facilitate seamless information, communication, sharing and reporting system in respect of the projects undertaken as part of its various schemes. Ministry of Tourism and SGs/UTAs including project implementing agencies are integral part of this system.The guidelines also provide for third-party audit, wherever considered necessary, to assess project operations, service levels and outcomes. Since the sanctioned projects are presently at different stages of implementation and operationalisation, their comprehensive impact on tourism growth, employment generation and regional development would become assessable progressively after completion and stabilisation of operations. ******ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (G) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*315 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF ICONIC TOURIST CENTRES TO GLOBAL SCALE INITIATIVE RAISED BY SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY AND SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB List of SASCI Tourism Projects sanctioned during Financial Year 2024-25: (in ₹ Crore) S. State Name of the SanctionAmount Work Physical Sancti As per N Project ed Cost Releas Status Progres on State s o. ed (as per Date Governm (in %) PMIS) ent Report- Revised Expected Date of Completi on 1. Andhra Enriching Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh the Fort and 2024 30-08- Gorge 77.91 83% 2026 Experience in Gandikota 2. Andhra Akhanda Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh Godavari- 113.75 2024 (Havelok Bridge & 30-08- 94.44 69% Pushkar 2026 Ghat) in Raja Mahendravar am 3. Arunachal Siang Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh Adventure & 2024 04-09- 46.48 30.67 78% Eco-Retreat 2026 in Pasighat 4. Assam Assam State Ongoing 26-11- Zoo Cum 2024 28-02- Botanical 97.12 191.88 56% 2027 Garden in Guwahati5. Assam Beautificatio Ongoing 26-11- n of Rang 2024 28-02- 94.76 43% Ghar in 2027 Sivasagar 6. Bihar Development Ongoing 26-11- of 2024 31-12- Matsyagand 97.61 29% 2026 ha Lake in Saharsa 7. Bihar Karamchat 97.10 Ongoing 26-11- Eco-Tourism 2024 and 31-12- 49.51 78% Adventure 2026 Hub in Karamchat 8. Chhattisg Development Ongoing 26-11- arh of 2024 31-09- Chitrotpala 95.79 3% 2027 Film City in Raipur 9. Chhattisg Development 97.45 Ongoing 26-11- arh of Tribal & 2024 Cultural 31-09- 51.87 2% Convention 2027 Centre in Raipur 10. Goa Chhatrapati Ongoing 26-11- Shivaji 2024 30-01- Maharaj 97.46 38% 2027 Museum in 188.20 Ponda 11. Goa Townsquare Ongoing 26-11- 30-01- 90.74 54% in Porvorim 2024 2027 12. G ujarat Ecotourism Ongoing 26-11- Destination 2024 30-03- at Kerly 99.50 31% 2027 (Mokarsagar) in Porbandar 151.06 13. G ujarat Tented City Physica 26-11- Physicall and lly 2024 y 51.56 100% Convention Comple Complete Centre in ted dDhordo 14. Jh arkhand Eco-Tourism Stalled 26-11- Development 2024 34.87 23.01 0% N.A. of Tilaiyya” in Koderma 15. Ka rnataka Ecotourism Ongoing 26-11- & Cultural 2024 Hub at Roerich and 30-01- 99.17 12% Devika Rani 2027 Estate Tataguni in 131.45 Bengaluru 16. Ka rnataka Development Ongoing 26-11- of Savadatti 2024 30-01- Yallammagu 100.00 0% 2027 dda in Belgavi 17. K erala Ashtamudi Ongoing 26-11- Biodiversity 2024 and Eco- 31-07- 59.71 55% recreational 2026 Hub in Kollam 18. K erala Global 155.05 Ongoing 26-11- Gateway 2024 to 30-09- Malabar's 95.34 71% 2026 Cultural Crucible in Sargaalayaa 19. M adhya Orchha A Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh Medieval 2024 31-12- 99.92 53% Splendour in 2026 Orchha 20. M adhya International 199.30 Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh Convention 2024 31-12- Centre for 99.38 74% 2026 MICE in Bhopal 21. Ma harashtra INS-Guldar 46.91 146.05 Ongoing 55% 26-11- 30-03-Underwater 2024 2028 Museum, Artificial Reef, and submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg 22. Ma harashtra Development Ongoing 26-11- of RAM-KAL 2024 30-03- 99.14 73% PATH in 2027 Nashik 23. M anipur Loktak Lake Not 26-11- Experience 89.48 59.06 Started 0% 2024 N.A. in Loktak 24. Me ghalaya MICE Ongoing 26-11- Infrastructur 2024 30-10- 99.27 12% e in 2027 Mawkhanu 198.54 25. Me ghalaya Redevelopm Ongoing 26-11- ent of 2024 30-10- 99.27 49% Umiam Lake 2027 in Shillong 26. O disha Development Ongoing 26-11- 30-03- 99.90 8% of Hirakund 2024 2027 131.92 27. O disha Development Ongoing 26-11- 30-08- 99.99 0% of Satkosia 2024 2028 28. P unjab Development Ongoing 26-11- of Heritage 2024 Street as a tribute to Shaheed-e- 31-12- Azam, Sardar 53.45 53.45 70% 2026 Bhaghat Singh at Khatkar Kalan in SBS Nagar 29. Ra jasthan Development Ongoing 26-11- at Amber- 2024 30-03- Nahargarh 49.31 96.30 70% 2027 and SurroundingArea in Jaipur 30. Ra jasthan Development Ongoing 26-11- 30-03- at Jal Mahal 96.61 31% 2024 2027 in Jaipur 31. S ikkim Skywalk, Ongoing 26-11- Bhaleydhung 2024 30-10- 97.37 57% a, Yangang 2026 in Namchi 109.27 32. S ikkim Border Ongoing 26-11- 30-10- Experience 68.19 69% 2024 2026 in Nathula 33. Tamil Development Ongoing 26-11- Nadu of 2024 Nandavanam 30-03- Heritage 99.67 7% 2027 Park in 112.13 Mammallapu ram 34. Tamil Eco Park at Ongoing 04-11- 30-01- Nadu Race Course 70.23 6% 2025 2027 in Ooty 35. Te langana Ramappa Ongoing 26-11- Region 2024 Sustainable 31-12- 73.74 57% Tourism 2026 Circuit in Ramappa 93.62 36. Te langana Somasilla Ongoing 26-11- Wellness & 2024 31-12- Spiritual 68.10 22% 2026 Retreat in Nallamala 37. T ripura Shakti Ongoing 26-11- Peethas 2024 30-03- Park at 97.70 97.70 55% 2027 Banduar in Gomati 38. Uttar Development Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh of 2024 30-10- 74.05 101.83 56% Bateshwar 2026 in District-Agra 39. Uttar Integrated Ongoing 26-11- Pradesh Buddhist 2024 30-10- Tourism 80.24 71% 2026 Development in Shrawasti 40. Ut tarakha Iconic City Ongoing 26-11- nd Rishikesh: 2024 31-10- Rafting Base 100.00 66.00 46% 2026 Station in Rishikesh Total 3295.76 2644.79 List of SASCI Tourism Projects sanctioned during Financial Year 2025-26: S. State Sanctioned Cost Amount Released No. (in ₹ Crore) (in ₹ Crore) 1. Himachal Pradesh 250.00 250.00 2. Mizoram 250.00 250.00 3. Nagaland 250.00 250.00 Total 750.00 750.00 ******