The Ministry of Tourism has launched the SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) initiative to promote lesser-known destinations and develop iconic tourist centers across the country. In 2024-25, the Government of India sanctioned 40 projects under the scheme, with a total investment of Rs. 3295.76 Crore, providing 100% central funding. The scheme aims to create comprehensive tourist experiences while emphasizing responsible tourism practices. Project selection was based on a challenge method, considering factors like connectivity, existing tourism ecosystem, carrying capacity, availability of utilities, and potential impact on tourism, including increased footfall, attraction of high-value tourists, increased tourism spending, job creation, sustainability, responsible tourism, and private investment. While the Government of India funds the project development, the respective State Governments are responsible for operation and maintenance. The initiative is expected to stimulate local economies and create opportunities for local artisans and communities. The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, provided this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Contact: Sunil Kumar Tiwari, tourism4pibatgmaildotcom. A list of the sanctioned projects is annexed, including project names, state, and sanctioned cost in crore.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and policies relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
SASCI Initiative: A tourism promotion initiative by the Ministry of Tourism focused on developing lesser-known destinations.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment SASCI Scheme: A scheme by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to state governments for tourism infrastructure development projects.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture who provided information regarding the SASCI scheme.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India, where the information about the scheme was presented.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India that has projects sanctioned under the SASCI scheme.
Arunachal Pradesh: A state in India that has projects sanctioned under the SASCI scheme.
Assam: A state in India that has projects sanctioned under the SASCI scheme.
Ministry of Tourism
SASCI Initiative for Promotion of Lesser-Known
Destinations
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi
With the aim to develop iconic tourist centres in the country, the Ministry of Tourism issued operational
guidelines along with detailed project report template under ‘Special Assistance to the States for Capital
Investment (SASCI)’ scheme. Accordingly, the State Governments submitted their project proposals on the
online portal and 40 projects were sanctioned under the scheme for Rs.3295.76 Crore by Government of India
with 100% central funding, the details of which is annexed.
SASCI scheme aims to develop end to end tourist experience that creates intended value while adopting the
responsible tourism practices. The projects under the scheme were selected on challenge method and the
parameters for the same covered multiple areas such as connectivity to the site, existing tourism eco-system,
carrying capacity, availability of utilities, project impact & value envisaged which included expected increase
in footfall within the prescribed carrying capacity, attract high value domestic and foreign tourists, increase
tourism spends, creation of new employment opportunities, enabling sustainability and responsible tourism,
private investment etc. As per the operational guidelines for SASCI scheme, while funding for developing the
projects is done by the Government of India, operation and maintenance of the project shall be the
responsibility of the respective State Government. Implementation of projects under the scheme is expected to
boost local economy and creating opportunities for local artisans and community.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
List of Projects sanctioned under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI
Scheme) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale:
(Amount In ₹ Crore)
Y e a r o f Sanctioned
S. No. State Name of the Project
Sanction Cost
1. Andhra Pradesh 2024-25 Enriching the fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota 77.91
Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok Bridge &PushkarGhat) in
2. Andhra Pradesh 2024-25 94.44
Raja Mahendravaram,
3. Arunachal Pradesh 2024-25 Siang Adventure & Eco-Retreat in Pasighat 46.48
4. Assam 2024-25 Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati 97.12
5. Assam 2024-25 Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar 94.76
6. Bihar 2024-25 Development of Matsyagandha Lake in Saharsa 97.61
Karamchat Eco-Tourism and Adventure Hub in
7. Bihar 2024-25 49.51
Karamchat8. Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Development of Chitrotpala Film City in Raipur 95.79
Development of Tribal & Cultural Convention Centre in
9. Chhattisgarh 2024-25 51.87
Raipur
Goa 2024-25 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Ponda 97.46
Goa 2024-25 Townsquare in Porvorim 90.74
Ecotourism Destination at Kerly (Mokarsagar) in
Gujarat 2024-25 99.50
Porbandar
Gujarat 2024-25 Tented City and Convention Centre in Dhordo 51.56
Jharkhand 2024-25 Eco-Tourism Development of Tilaiyya” in Koderma 34.87
Ecotourism & Cultural Hub at Roerich and Devika Rani
Karnataka 2024-25 99.17
Estate Tataguni in Bengaluru
Karnataka 2024-25 Development of SavadattiYallammagudda in Belgavi 100.00
Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco-recreational Hub in
Kerala 2024-25 59.71
Kollam
Global Gateway to Malabar's Cultural Crucible in
Kerala 2024-25 95.34
Sargaalayaa
Madhya Pradesh 2024-25 Orchha A Medieval Splendour in Orchha 99.92
Madhya Pradesh 2024-25 International Convention Centre for MICE in Bhopal 99.38
INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and
Maharashtra 2024-25 46.91
submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg
Maharashtra 2024-25 Development of RAM-KAL PATH in Nashik 99.14
Manipur 2024-25 Loktak Lake Experience in Loktak 89.48
Meghalaya 2024-25 MICE Infrastructure in Mawkhanu 99.27
Meghalaya 2024-25 Redevelopment of Umiam Lake in Shillong 99.27
Odisha 2024-25 Development of Hirakund 99.90
Odisha 2024-25 Development of Satkosia 99.99
Development of Heritage Street as a tribute to Shaheed-e-
Punjab 2024-25 Azam, SardarBhaghat Singh at Khatkar Kalan in SBS 53.45
Nagar
Development at Amber-Nahargarh and Surrounding Area
Rajasthan 2024-25 49.31
in Jaipur
Rajasthan 2024-25 Development at Jalmahal in Jaipur 96.61
Sikkim 2024-25 Skywalk, Bhaleydhunga, Yangang in Namchi 97.37
Sikkim 2024-25 Border Experience in Nathula 68.19
Development of Nandavanam Heritage Park in
Tamil Nadu 2024-25 99.67
Mammallapuram
Tamil Nadu 2024-25 Garden of Flowers in Devala 70.23
Telangana 2024-25 Ramappa Region Sustainable Tourism Circuit in Ramappa 73.74
Telangana 2024-25 Somasilla Wellness & Spiritual Retreat in Nallamala 68.10
Tripura 2024-25 Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar in Gomati 97.70
Uttar Pradesh 2024-25 Development of Bateshwar in District-Agra 74.05
Uttar Pradesh 2024-25 Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti 80.24Uttarakhand 2024-25 Iconic City Rishikesh: Rafting Base Station in Rishikesh 100.00
Total 3295.76
(Release ID: 2159117)