**Executive Summary**
This document is a response by the Minister of Tourism to unstarred questions in Lok Sabha regarding the sustainable implementation of tourism projects in Hisar and Sonipat, Haryana. The response details the Ministry’s initiatives, schemes like Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD, and the sanctioned projects in Haryana, including their funding and implementation status. The answer was provided on February 9, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Recognition of Tourism Importance:**
* The Ministry of Tourism acknowledges the tourism importance of Haryana.
* **Tourism Development and Promotion:**
* Primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA).
* The Ministry of Tourism complements these efforts through central sector schemes.
* **Central Sector Schemes:**
* 'Swadesh Darshan (SD)'
* 'Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)'
* 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)' (a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan)
* 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)'
* 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale'
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Financial assistance is extended to SGs/UTAs upon receipt of project proposals.
* **Responsibilities of SG/UTA:**
* Providing land for project implementation.
* Operation and Management of assets/projects created under these schemes.
* **Review and Guidance by Ministry of Tourism:**
* The Ministry reviews the progress of projects and provides guidance on related issues.
* **Current Proposal Status:**
* There is currently no proposal under consideration before the Ministry of Tourism for sanctioning projects in Haryana including in Rohtak district.
* **Details of Sanctioned Projects in Haryana:**
* **Swadesh Darshan:** Development of Tourism Infrastructures at places related to Mahabharata in Kurukshetra, sanctioned in 2016-17, Amount sanctioned is Rs. 77.39 Crore and Amount utilized is Rs. 76.74 Crore.
* **Swadesh Darshan 2.0:** Development of Adventure Tourism Hub at Tikkar Taal and Adventure Park in Panchkula, sanctioned in 2024-25, Amount sanctioned is Rs. 26.68 Crore and Amount released is Rs. 2.67 Crore.
* **Swadesh Darshan 2.0:** Rejuvenation of Yadavindra Garden in Panchkula, sanctioned in 2024-25, Amount sanctioned is Rs. 65.82 Crore and Amount released is Rs. 6.58 Crore.
* **PRASHAD:** Development of Nada Saheb Gurudwara and Mata Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula District, sanctioned in 2019-20, Amount sanctioned is Rs. 48.53 Crore and Amount utilized is Rs. 34.68 Crore.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government/Union Territory Administration**
* **Impact:** The SG/UTA are primarily responsible for tourism development and promotion. They are impacted by the Ministry of Tourism's central sector schemes and financial assistance.
* **Action Required:** The SG/UTA need to submit project proposals to the Ministry of Tourism to receive financial assistance and provide land for project implementation and operation/management of assets/projects.
**Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is impacted by the need to review project proposals, extend financial assistance, monitor the progress of projects, and provide guidance.
* **Action Required:** The Ministry needs to continue to review project proposals, provide financial assistance, monitor project progress, and offer guidance.
**Citizens of Haryana (Hisar and Sonipat Lok Sabha Constituencies)**
* **Impact:** The citizens are impacted by the development of tourism infrastructure and the promotion of tourism destinations in their region, as well as the economic and employment opportunities generated by tourism projects.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated, but could include participating in local initiatives or providing feedback on tourism development.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism.
Swadesh Darshan: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country.
PRASHAD: Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive, a scheme to augment tourism infrastructure development.
Haryana: The state where the tourism projects under discussion are located.
Hisar and Sonipat: Lok Sabha Constituencies in Haryana, the primary locations of the tourism projects being inquired about.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1410
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
SUSTAINABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOURISM PROJECTS IN
HISAR AND SONIPAT
†1410. SHRI JAI PARKASH:
SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of potential for historical,
cultural and rural tourism in Hisar and Sonipat Lok Sabha
Constituencies;
(b) whether the projects supported by the Government are not being
implemented at the required pace, thereby affecting regional
tourism development, employment generation and economic
activities;
(c) the details of the number of the projects approved for tourism
development in the said Constituencies since 2019 along with the
funds allocated, released and utilized so far;
(d) whether the lack of infrastructure, connectivity, publicity and local
participation in the projects has been reviewed;
(e) whether any specific time bound action plan is proposed by the
Government for speedy, effective and sustainable implementation
of tourism projects in the said Constituencies;
(f) whether delay in implementation of projects, land acquisition or
other administrative hurdles have been reviewed; and
(g) whether any specific time bound action plan is proposed to
strengthen tourism infrastructure, facilities and promotion in the
said Constituencies?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)(a) to (g): The Ministry of Tourism recognizes the tourism importance of the
country including destinations of Haryana. While development and promotion
of tourism destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the
concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA),
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 Swadesh Darshan scheme and
‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive
(PRASHAD)’ scheme complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure
development in the country by extending financial assistance to the
SGs/UTAs on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State
Government/Union Territory Administration in synergy with the scheme
guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds etc.
Government of India under its ‘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.
Providing land for implementing projects under above mentioned
schemes is responsibility of the concerned SG/UTA and the Operation and
Management of the assets/projects created under these schemes is also
undertaken by them. The Ministry of Tourism from time to time reviews the
progress of these projects on various aspects including speedy
implementation and provides guidance on the related issues.
While receiving project proposals is part of the process, presently there
is no proposal under consideration before the Ministry of Tourism for
sanctioning of projects in Haryana including in Rohtak district. The details
of the project sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in Haryana under
Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD scheme is as under:
(Rs. In Crore)
Scheme Name of the Circuit/ Year of Sanction Amount
project/ Destination sanction Amount released
Experience or
authorized
(R),
releasedor
authorised
for
utilization
(A) and
utilized (U)
Swadesh Development of Krishna 2016-17 77.39 76.74 (U)
Darshan Tourism Circuit
Infrastructures
at places related
to Mahabharata
in Kurukshetra
Swadesh Development of Panchkula 2024-25 26.68 2.67 (A)
Darshan Adventure
2.0 Tourism Hub at
Tikkar Taal and
Adventure Park
Swadesh Rejuvenation of Panchkula 2024-25 65.82 6.58 (A)
Darshan Yadavindra
2.0 Garden
PRASHAD Development of Panchkula 2019-20 48.53 34.68 (U)
Nada Saheb
Gurudwara and
Mata Mansa Devi
Temple in
Panchkula
District
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