The central government has approved INR 3,295 cr for tourism infrastructure development under the SASCI scheme of the central government. The government has selected 40 projects under the challenge mode spread across 23 states and union territories for capital assistance under the scheme.
The aim of this scheme is to infuse long term interest free loans for a period of 50 years to States for comprehensively developing iconic tourist centers in the country, branding, and marketing them at global scale. The scheme envisages the local economy growth and create employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects.
In a X message, the union culture and tourism minister said that the fund will ensure at least one iconic site is developed in every nook and corner of the country for the tourists from across the globe to come and see.
“From decongesting popular sites, integrating advanced technologies, promoting sustainable practices, to encouraging public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure and visitor experiences, a host of measures will be undertaken to ensure a world-class experience for everyone who wishes to soak in Bharat’s natural, cultural and historic grandeur,” union tourism and culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in his message.
As per the guidelines of the scheme of the ministry of tourism, the maximum capital support a state can receive is pegged at INR 250 cr. However, most of the states have more than one project approved making the maximum capital investment to a project in this round at INR 100 cr.
The projects which received the highest allocation of INR 100 cr are Rafting Base station development at Rishikesh by Uttarakhand tourism and development of Savadatti Yallammaguda in Belgavi in Karnataka.
Manipur, the state which is going through ethnic strife for over a year, has got a capital funding of INR 89.48 cr for the development of Loktak Lake experiences.
In northeast, Meghalaya has been picked up for development of MICE infrastructure at Mawkhanu in Shillong (INR 99.27 cr), and re-development of Umiam Lake (INR 99.27 cr)
Goa receives support for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum at Pona (INR 97.46 cr) and the proposed town square at Povorim (INR 90.74).
24 states and UTs which have projects approved under the challenge mode for the SASCI capital investment scheme are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh; Goa; Gujarat; Jharkhand; Karnataka; Kerala; Madhya Pradesh; Maharashtra; Manipur; Meghalaya; Odisha; Punjab; Rajasthan; Sikkim; Tamil Nadu, Telangana; Tripura; Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
