Parliament Question: Redevelopment of Temple Corridors and Pilgrimage Sites

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+1466 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REDEVELOPMENT OF TEMPLE CORRIDORS AND PILGRIMAGE SITES +1466.SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI: SHRI NARAYAN TATU RANE: SHRI CHANDAN CHAUHAN: SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM: SHRI VIVEK THAKUR: SHRI HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI PATEL: SHRI BUNTY VIVEK SAHU: SHRI ASHISH DUBEY: SHRI MITESHBHAI RAMESHBHAI PATEL: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the details of the major temple corridor and pilgrimage site redevelopment projects supported by the Government during the year 2025, including information on the key sites involved, State/UT-wise, particularly in Madhya Pradesh; (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, released and utilized for the said projects along with the current status thereof, State/UT-wise especially in Bihar; (c) the details of the measures taken to ensure a balance between heritage conservation, improvement of pilgrim facilities, crowd management and environmental sustainability; and (d) the extent to which the said redevelopment initiatives enhanced the pilgrimage experience, local employment and regional economic activity, State/UT-wise, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (d): The Ministry of Tourism, through its ongoing schemes of Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Swadesh Darshan, complements the efforts of the State Governments (SGs) and UT Administrations (UTs) by extending financialassistance to SGs/UTs for the development of tourism-related infrastructure across the country including major pilgrimage sites and temple corridors. During the year 2025, various projects for the development of pilgrimage destinations have been sanctioned under the above mentioned schemes. The details of the funds sanctioned, released, utilised along with the present status of these projects in the country including Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are given in the Annexure. Under the above mentioned schemes, projects are formulated and implemented in accordance with the approved guidelines to ensure sustainable and responsible tourism. The Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are prepared in consultations with the respective State Governments and UT Administrations, local bodies, and other stakeholders. The said consultations are undertaken to ensure that spiritual integrity and ingenuity of the sites are maintained while developing various amenities for improving overall pilgrim/tourist experience. The DPR submitted to the Ministry of Tourism also incorporates sustainable operation and maintenance plans for the proposed projects. To address challenges such as overcrowding, environmental degradation, infrastructure strain in high-footfall pilgrimage sites and to improve pilgrimage experience, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned various interventions such as Queue management complex, Waiting halls, Widening of approach roads, CCTVs for pilgrim safety, Parking, Tourist Information Centre, last-mile connectivity, solid and pious waste management systems, illumination, sanitation, amenities centres, interpretation facilities, rainwater harvesting among others. Also, under the Central Sector Schemes of PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan, the Ministry seeks to develop tourism infrastructure in a holistic and sustainable manner with the objective of boosting tourism, conserving local culture, generating employment and strengthening the local economy across the country. *******ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+1466 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING REDEVELOPMENT OF TEMPLE CORRIDORS AND PILGRIMAGE SITES BY SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI, SHRI NARAYAN TATU RANE, SHRI CHANDAN CHAUHAN, SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM, SHRI VIVEK THAKUR, SHRI HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI PATEL, SHRI BUNTY VIVEK SAHU, SHRI ASHISH DUBEY, SHRI MITESHBHAI RAMESHBHAI PATEL List of pilgrimage projects sanctioned under PRASHAD, SD 2.0 and CBDD Scheme in 2025 Sr. State Scheme Project Name Sanctio Sanction Amount Amount Status Authorise No. n Year Cost Utilised d (₹ Cr.) (₹ Cr.) (₹ Cr.) 1 Andhr CBDD Enriching March 25.00 2.50 0.00 Ongo a Buddhist 2025 ing Prade Heritage and sh Cultural Experiences at Nagarjuna Sagar 2 Andhr CBDD Development of March 24.99 2.50 0.00 Ong a Abhobilam as a 2025 oing Prade Spiritual sh Odyssey 3 Bihar SD 2.0 Development of March 165.44 16.54 0.00 Ong the Buddhist 2025 oing Meditation & Experience Centre, Bodh Gaya 4 Bihar PRASH Development of March 13.29 0.00 0.00 Ong AD Ambika Bhawani 2025 oing Temple, Saran 5 Himach SD 2.0 Development of July 56.26 5.63 0.00 Ong al Maa Chintpurni 2025 oing Prades Devi Temple, h Una 6 Jharkha CBDD Tourism March 18.87 1.87 0.00 Ong nd Infrastructure 2025 oingDevelopment at Ramrekha Dham 6 Kerala CBDD Thalassery: The March 25.00 2.50 0.00 Ong Spritiual Nexus 2025 oing 7 KarnataPRASHADevelopment of March 18.37 0.00 0.00 Ong ka D Renuka Yallama 2025 oing Devi temple 8 KarnataPRASHADevelopment of March 22.25 6.30 0.00 Ong ka D Basic Amenities 2025 oing at Papnash Temple, Bidar dist. 9 Madhy SD 2.0 Development of July 44.24 4.42 0.00 Ong a Pitambara Peeth 2025 oing Prade Datia sh 10 Madhy CBDD Orchha A March 25.00 2.50 0.00 Ong a Medieval 2025 oing Prade Splendour 2.0 sh 11 Meghal CBDD Nartiang March 24.87 2.49 0.00 Ong aya Spiritual & 2025 oing Cultural Centre 12 MizoraPRASHA Development of March 5.47 1.56 0.00 Ong m D Basic Amenities 2025 oing under PRASHAD scheme in Vangchhia, Champhai District 13 Nagaland CBDD Soulful Trails: March 24.94 2.49 0.00 Ong The Impur 2025 oing Heritage Experience 14 Punja CBDD Heritage Street - March 24.90 2.49 0.00 Ong b A Symbol of 2025 oing Peace and Harmony at Sri Anandpur Sahib 15 Puduch PRASH Development of March 25.94 0.00 0.00 Ong erry AD Pilgrim 2025 oing Facilites& Touristattractions for Sri Dharbaranyeswa ra Temple 16 Rajasth SD 2.0 Development March 87.87 8.79 0.00 Ong an works at Shri 2025 oing KhatuShyam Ji Temple (Sikar) 17 Rajasth SD 2.0 Development July 22.58 2.26 0.00 Ong an Works at Shri 2025 oing Karnimatamandi r, Bikaner 18 Rajasth SD 2.0 Development of July 48.73 4.87 0.00 Ong an Malaseri Dungri, 2025 oing Bhilwara District 19 Sikki CBDD Kabi Chronicles: March 24.96 2.50 0.00 Ong m A journey 2025 oing through Unity and Heritage 20 Tamil CBDD Iconic March 20.01 2.00 0.00 Ong Nadu transformation of 2025 oing Rameswaram 21 Tamil PRASH Development of 8 March 40.94 0.00 0.00 Ong Nadu AD Navagraha 2025 oing Temples 22 Telang PRASH Development of March 4.22 0.00 0.00 Ong ana AD Basic Amenities 2025 oing at goddess RenukaYellama Devasthanam 23 Uttarak CBDD Development of March 17.60 1.76 0.00 Ong hand Kainchi Dham 2025 oing Campus *****