Parliament Question: Development of Religious Tourism in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †150 ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025 DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM IN RAJASTHAN †150. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the details of the current Schemes by the Government to develop religious areas as religious tourism destinations; (b) the details of the amount allocated by the Government to religious sites in Rajasthan, scheme-wise including the name of the works undertaken, since April 1, 2023; (c) whether the Government proposes to allocate a special budget for the development of Kharnal, the birthplace of folk deity Tejaji in Kharnal village in Nagaur, Rajasthan the center of faith of the Bishnoi community in Mukaam in Bikaner district; and (d) if so, the timeline for the same and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) and (b): The Ministry of Tourism through its ongoing schemes of ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’, Swadesh Darshan and Scheme of Assistance to Central Agencies, complements the efforts of the State Governments/UT Administrations by extending financial assistance to SGs/UTs/Central Agencies for developing tourism related infrastructure in the country. Under the PRASHAD Scheme, the Ministry of Tourism aims to enhance the spiritual and pilgrimage experience by holistically developing tourism infrastructure at pilgrimage and heritage sites. Till date, the Ministry hassanctioned 54 projects in 28 States/UTs with an estimated cost of Rs.1726.74 Crores. In addition, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 76 projects under various thematic circuits including thematic circuits such as Spiritual circuits, Buddhist Circuits, Krishna Circuits, Tirthankar and other circuits. The Swadesh Darshan scheme has been revamped as ' Swadesh Darshan 2.0’ with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations .Since the inception of scheme, 53 projects have been sanctioned including projects in religious sites by the Ministry . The Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines for ‘Challenge Based Destination Development’, a sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0. Under this sub-scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 36 projects under different categories such as Spiritual Tourism, Culture & Heritage, etc. Further, the Government of India under the guidelines for Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment SASCI for Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale has approved 40 projects across 23 States, including projects at religious destinations. The Ministry of Tourism under the Scheme of Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development also provides support to Central Agencies for tourism infrastructure development which includes infrastructure development at sites of religious significance. The details of the projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism at Religious places in Rajasthan since April 2023, are given in the Annexure. (c) and (d): No proposal is under consideration of the Ministry of Tourism for the development of tourist infrastructure around Kharnal, the birthplace of folk deity Tejaji in Kharnal village in Nagaur, Rajasthan.Receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT Administrations/ Central Agencies for financial assistance for tourism projects is a continuous process. The proposals received are examined with reference to the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance is extended for such projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated conditions and availability of funds. *****ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†150 ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM IN RAJASTHAN RAISED BY SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL. Details of the projects sanctioned under SD 2.0 in Rajasthan S. Project Name/ Project components Amount Amount No. Sanction Date Sanctioned Authorised (₹ in Crore) (₹ in Crore) 1. Spiritual i. Parking & Entry 21.65 2.17 Experience, Plaza ii. Website Keshavraipatan Development for (Mar 2024) online Ticketing iii. Interpretation Centre & Ticketing Area iv. Ghat Development and Aarti platforms v. Signage & Way finding vi. Toilets and Shower Area vii. Bhojnalaya and Tourist Amenities viii. Temple restoration and Bastion wall restoration ix. Temple façade illumination & allied infrastructure x. Boats & Jetty2. Development i. Interpretation 87.87 8.79 works at Shri Centre (Digital Museum/display) Khatu Shyam Ji ii. Katha Pandal Temple (Sikar) iii. OAT & Light and Sound Show iv. Development of Mela Ground v. Waiting Hall vi. Development of site Internal Pathway and Boundary wall vii. Shelter Area (Nos- 8) viii. Cafeteria ix. Parking (both sides) x. Food Court xi. Toilet Block (Nos 5) xii. Digital Signage Board for Display of Parking Availability xiii. Drinking Water Stations (Nos- 4) xiv. Signage Board (Nos-40) xv. Dustbins (Nos- 25) xvi. Benches (Nos- 20) xvii. CCTV (Computer System and Accessories for 4 Locations) (Nos- 100) xviii. Electrical Works (High Mast Light:Nos-5, Street Solar Light: nos- 40) xix. Main Entry Gates (3 Locations) 3. Development i. Shops & Kiosk (50 22.57 2.26 Works at Shri no.) ii. Development of Karni mata Mela ground mandir, Bikaner iii. Covered Temple Pathway (Approx. 500 mtr. Long ) iv. Tourist facilitation centre (includes interpretation centre, Multipurpose hall, cafeteria, Locker room & shoe rack) (01 no.) v. Development of Parking vi. Drinking water stations (04 nos.) vii. Benches (30 nos.) viii. Dustbins (20 nos.) ix. Signages (20 nos.) x. Toilet block (2 no.) xi. Yatri sheds (4 nos.) xii. Development of pathway (north entry) xiii. Open air theatre (OAT) xiv. Approach road (Underpass- Karni Mata) xv. Internal electrical workxvi. External electrical work xvii. CCTV xviii. Display Screen (LED 3 nos.) 4. Development of i. Entrance Gate (5 48.73 4.87 Malaseri Dungri, nos) ii. Parking (12000 Bhilwara District sqm Cobble stone and CC pavement parking with speed bump and retro-reflective direction signages) iii. Landscaping (approx. 5-hectare plantation, Low Maintenance Plants like Neem corridors etc which also has significance with Bhagwan Devnarayan + Motifs + Cobble pathways) iv. Bhojanshala (for gathering of 500 people at a time) v. Toilet Block (6 Nos) vi. Kitchen for Sawamani (1 Nos) (10 nos Kitchen for Preparing prasad) vii. Sabhasthal Ground (Boundary Wall, Entry-Exist Gate)viii. Sabhasthal Manch ix. Health Care (200 sqm small Primary Healthcare Centre on temple premise) x. Multipurpose Building (Meditation Hall / Katha Pandal / Conference Hall / Interpretation Centre) xi. Waiting Hall (1 nos) (two Floor Building for 500 people) xii. Open Air Theatre xiii. Internal BT Road & Temple Connectivity Road (12 m wide BT Road top with kerb stone along Pathway for internal campus connectivity) xiv. Boundary Wall (3.9 Km) (3900 metre long 2.1 m high stone boundary wall with Khanda Stone-Ashlar Masonry.) xv. Water Cooler (10 Nos) xvi. Benches (75 nos Stone Benches) xvii. Signage (23 nos Directional & 31Nos Informatory Signages) xviii. Dustbin (85 nos Stainless Steel Dust Bin) xix. Internal Electrical xx. External Electrical xxi. CCTV Surveillance & Networking Total 180.82 18.09 *****