Parliament Question: Projects under SDS and PRASHAD in Uttar Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1548 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 PROJECTS UNDER SDS AND PRASHAD IN UTTAR PRADESH 1548. SHRI ATUL GARG: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the status of the projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme in Uttar Pradesh; (b) whether the Government has any proposal to include the historic Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Ghaziabad under the spiritual circuit for infrastructure development; (c) the details of the funds allocated for the development of tourist amenities in the National Capital Region (NCR); (d) the details of the measures taken/being taken to promote the Buddhist circuit sites in the said State to international tourists; and (e) the timeline for the completion of the ongoing tourism projects in Western Uttar Pradesh? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism through its ongoing schemes of ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’, Swadesh Darshan and ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’ – a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan, complements the efforts of the State Governments (SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs) by extending financial assistance to them for developing tourism related infrastructure in the country, including the State of Uttar Pradesh and National Capital Region (NCR). The projects under these schemes are implemented by the respective States/UTs. However, the Ministry of Tourism regularly monitors the progress of the projects and also encourages respectiveState Government/ UT Administrations to complete the projects in a time bound manner. The details of the projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and National Capital Region (NCR) along with their status under the Schemes of PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), are given in the Annexure. No proposal is under consideration of the Ministry of Tourism for development of historic Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Ghaziabad. However, receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT Administrations 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. The Ministry of Tourism as part of its ongoing endeavour promotes various tourism destinations and products of the country including Buddhist sites through promotional activities such as events, website, social media promotions, fairs and festivals, etc. *******ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1548 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING PROJECTS UNDER SDS AND PRASHAD IN UTTAR PRADESH BY SHRI ATUL GARG List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under PRASHAD Scheme Sr. State Name of the Project Sanction Amount No Year Sanctioned (₹ in Crore) 1. Uttar Development of 2015-16 18.73 Pradesh Varanasi – Phase –I 2. Uttar Development of 2014-15 10.98 Pradesh Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II) 3. Uttar River Cruise Tourism in 2017-18 9.02 Pradesh Ganga, Varanasi 4. Uttar Construction of Tourist 2014-15 9.36 Pradesh Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan 5. Uttar Development of 2017-18 44.60 Pradesh Varanasi – Phase –II 6. Uttar Development of 2018-19 37.59 Pradesh Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under Swadesh Darshan Scheme Sr. no. State/UT Circuit / Name of the Project Amount Sanction Sanctioned Year (₹ in Crore) 1. Rajasthan Spiritual Development of Spiritual 87.05 Circuit Circuit– 'Development of 2016-17 Churu (Salasar Balaji)- Jaipur (Shri SamodkeBalaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehndipur Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji) 2. Uttar Buddhist Development of Srawasti, 87.89 Pradesh Circuit Kushinagar, &Kapilwastu 2016-17 3. Uttar Ramayana Development of Chitrakoot 69.45 Pradesh Circuit and Shringverpur 2016-17 4. Uttar Spiritual Development of Ahar- 71.91 Pradesh Circuit Aligarh-Kasganj-Sarosi 2016-17 (Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-Mirzapur- Gorakhpur-Domariyaganj- Basti-Barabanki-Azamgarh- Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur 5. Uttar Spiritual Development of Bijnor- 67.51 Pradesh Circuit Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur 2016-17 Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi 6. Uttar Heritage Development of Kalinjar 36.65 Pradesh Circuit Fort (Banda)- Maghar Dham 2016-17 (Sant Kabir Nagar)- Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- Mahuar shaheed Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut) 7. Uttar Ramayana Development of Ayodhya 127.21 Pradesh Circuit 2017-188. Uttar Spiritual Development of Jewar- 12.03 Pradesh Circuit Dadri-Sikandrabad-Noida- 2018-19 Khurja-Banda 9. Uttar Spiritual Development of 18.30 Pradesh Circuit Gorakhnath Temple 2018-19 (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj) List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Sr. State Destination Name of the Sanctioned Sanctioned no. Experience Year Cost (₹ in Crore) 1. Uttar Naimisaranya Vedic- 2023-24 17.80 Pradesh wellness (Rev March Experience 2025) 2. Uttar Prayagraj Azad Park and 2023-24 14.52 Pradesh Dekho (Rev March Prayagraj 2025) Trail Experince List of projects sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh and NCR under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) State Destination/ Name of the Sanctioned Sanctioned Category Experience Year Cost (₹ in Crore) Uttar Mahoba Development of 2024-25 24.98 Pradesh (Culture & Cultural Heritage) Landscape at Mahoba *****