Parliament Question: Development of tourism in Assam

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.784 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026 DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ASSAM 784 SHRI AJIT KUMAR BHUYAN: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has prepared any plan to develop parts of Assam to be more tourist- friendly; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government has received a comprehensive proposal from the Assam Government under Swadesh Darshan scheme regarding development of tourist places in the State; (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by Government so far for allocation of necessary funds; (e) whether Government has taken/proposes to take steps to implement long-awaited public demand for tourism projects in the State, as it has tremendous potential to attract domestic and foreign tourists; and (f) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (f): Development of tourism destinations and products is 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, 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, 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 sanctioned projects with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. While receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT Administrations for financial assistance for tourism projects under applicable schemes is an ongoing process, the Government of India has already sanctioned projects under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, SASCI and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam, the details of which is annexed. *****ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.784 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ASSAM RAISED BY SHRI AJIT KUMAR BHUYAN Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0, CBDD, SASCI and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam: (Amount in ₹Crore) Scheme/ S. Name of the Project/ Experience Circuit/ Year of Amount Sub- No. Destination sanction sanctioned scheme Swadesh 1 Development of Manas– Probitora– Wildlife 2015-16 94.68 Darshan Nameri– Kaziranga– Dibru– Circuit (SD) Saikhowa 2. Development of Tezpur – Majuli – Heritage 2016-17 90.98 Sibsagar Circuit SD2.0 3. Kokrajhar Wetland Experience Kokrajhar 2023-24 26.68 4. Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate Jorhat 2023- 24 23.88 CBDD 5. Panidhing Bird Sanctuary (under Sivasagar 2024-25 9.99 Eco-tourism and Amrit Dharohar category) SASCI 6. Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Guwahati 2024-25 97.12 Garden in Guwahati 7. Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar 2024-25 94.76 Sivasagar PRASHAD 8. Development of Kamakhya Temple Guwahati 2015-16 29.80 and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati ******