**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer provided by the Minister of Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 191, answered on December 1, 2025. The question concerns the development of tourism in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, and the government's plans to address infrastructure inadequacies and prepare for the upcoming Mahakumbh Mela in Nashik in 2027. The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ministry's Acknowledgment:** The Ministry of Tourism recognizes Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's importance as a historical, cultural, and touristic center.
* **Tourism Development Responsibility:** Development and promotion of tourism destinations, including infrastructure upgrades, are primarily the responsibility of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
* **Ministry's Role:** The Ministry of Tourism complements these efforts through schemes that provide financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development.
* **Schemes and Initiatives:**
* **Swadesh Darshan Scheme:** Launched in 2014-15 to develop tourism infrastructure under thematic circuits. It has now been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
* **Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD):** Sub-schemes of the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
* **Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale:** Sanctioned 40 projects in 23 States for Rs.3295.76 Crore in Financial Year 2024-25, including one project in Nashik, Maharashtra.
* **Current Proposals:** There is no new proposal presently under consideration for sanctioning of projects in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
* **Projects Sanctioned in Maharashtra:**
* **Swadesh Darshan Scheme:** Two projects sanctioned: Coastal Circuit (Rs. 19.06 Crore) and Spiritual Circuit (Rs. 45.47 Crore)
* **Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme:** One project sanctioned: Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park-Phase 3 in Pune (Rs. 76.22 Crore)
* **Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme:** One project sanctioned: Development of Ahmednagar Fort (Rs. 25.00 Crore)
* **Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme:** Two projects sanctioned: INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg (Rs. 46.91 Crore) and Development of RAM-KAL PATH in Nashik (Rs. 99.14 Crore)
* **Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme:** One project sanctioned: Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik (Rs. 45.41 Crore)
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/UT Administrations**
* **Impact:** They are primarily responsible for the development and promotion of tourism destinations and products.
* **Action Required:** To submit project proposals under the relevant schemes, in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government instructions, availability of funds etc.
**Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for providing financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations through various schemes.
* **Action Required:** To continue receiving and sanctioning projects for tourism infrastructure development.
**Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar**
* **Impact:** The area stands to benefit from existing tourism development schemes; however, the document does not mention any ongoing development for projects that the Ministry is considering for sanctioning.
* **Action Required:** To continue the efforts for tourism infrastructure development.
**Nashik**
* **Impact:** The area will benefit from projects for the upcoming Mahakumbh Mela in 2027.
* **Action Required:** To continue the efforts for tourism infrastructure development.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for formulating national policies and programmes for the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A scheme launched by the Ministry of Tourism to develop tourism infrastructure in India, later revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0).
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A scheme for the rejuvenation and spiritual augmentation of pilgrimage destinations.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Government of India's initiative to develop Iconic Tourist Centres.
Maharashtra: Indian state where the projects are sanctioned under various schemes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.191
ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR
191. DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, an
important historical, cultural and touristic centre of Maharashtra, lacks
adequate infrastructure facilities for tourists, resulting in
inconvenience to domestic and foreign visitors;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to prepare and implement a
comprehensive plan for upgrading basic amenities such as clean
drinking water, toilet and drainage systems, electricity, safe access
roads, cooking and accommodation facilities and tourist
information/guide centres at various sites under the control of the
Archaeological Department; and
(c) whether, the Government proposes to take urgent steps in view of the
forthcoming Mahakumbh Mela in Nashik in 2027 for the holistic
development of tourist destinations in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to
cater to the expected rise in tourist footfall?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (c): The Ministry of Tourism recognizes the importance of
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as an important historical, cultural and
touristic centre of Maharashtra. While development and promotion of
tourism destinations and products including comprehensive planning for
upgrading basic amenities at various tourist destinations is primarily
undertaken by the concerned State Governments (SGs)/Union Territory
Administrations (UTAs)/ concerned agency, the Ministry of Tourism through
its schemes complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure
development and creating experiences by providing financial assistance to
the State Governments/UT Administrations. This assistance is provided onreceipt of the project proposals from the concerned SGs/UTAs/ concerned
agency under the relevant schemes in synergy with the scheme guidelines,
Government instructions, availability of funds etc.
The Ministry launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2014-15 with the idea
to develop tourism infrastructure under identified thematic circuits and
sanctioned 76 projects in the country. The scheme has now been revamped
as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable
and responsible tourism destinations and the Ministry has sanctioned 53
projects under this initiative in the country. Further, Ministry has also
sanctioned projects under ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage
Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Challenge Based Destination
Development (CBDD)’, a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme.
In addition, the Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States
for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to
Global Scale’ sanctioned 40 projects in 23 States for Rs.3295.76 Crore in
the country including one project in Nashik, Maharashtra, in Financial Year
2024-25, with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic
tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.
While receiving and sanctioning of projects for tourism infrastructure
development in the country under different schemes of the Ministry of
Tourism is a continuous process, there is no new proposal presently under
consideration of the Ministry for sanctioning of projects in Chhatrapati
Sambhajinagar.
The details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, PRASHAD, CBDD
and SASCI schemes in Maharashtra is annexed.
******ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.191 ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT
OF TOURISM IN CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR RAISED BY DR. KALYAN
VAIJINATHRAO KALE.
(i) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the
State of Maharashtra:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S. No. Circuit / Name of the Project Sanctioned
Sanction Year Cost
1. Coastal Circuit Development of Sindhudurg Coastal 19.06
2015-16 Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli,
Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav
2. Spiritual Development of Waki- Adasa- 45.47
Circuit Dhapewada- Paradsingha-
2018-19 Telankhandi- Girad
(ii) Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme in
the State of Maharashtra:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S. No. Year of Destination Name of the Experience Sanctioned
Sanction Cost
1. 2023-24 Pune Shivsrushti Historical 76.22
Theme Park- Phase 3
(iii) Details of Project sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination
Development (CBDD) Scheme in the State of Maharashtra:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S.No. Year of Name of the Project Category Sanctioned
Sanction Cost
1. Development of Culture &
2024-25 25.00
Ahmednagar Fort Heritage
(iv) Details of Project sanctioned under Special Assistance to States for
Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme in the State of Maharashtra:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S.No. Year of Name of the Project Sanctioned
Sanction Cost1. 2024-25 INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, 46.91
Artificial Reef, and submarine
Tourism in Sindhudurg
2. 2024-25 Development of RAM-KAL PATH 99.14
in Nashik
(v) Details of Project sanctioned under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme in the State of
Maharashtra:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
S. No. Project Name Sanction Year Sanction Amount
1. Development of
2017-18 45.41
Trimbakeshwar, Nashik
******