MoT sanctions 40 projects for iconic tourist centres development
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87 project proposals reported to have been submitted by the States through the online portal. 40 sanctioned projects under the scheme, amount to INR 3,295.76 crore with 100% central funding.
In a recent written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, shared that with the aim of developing iconic tourist centres across the country, the Ministry of Tourism has issued operational guidelines along with a detailed project report (DPR) template under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. Accordingly, 87 project proposals reported to have been submitted by the States through the online portal, and 40 projects have been sanctioned under the scheme, amounting to INR 3,295.76 crore with 100% central funding.
Ministry of Tourism does not directly undertake Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects under its current centrally sponsored schemes including Swadesh Darshan Scheme, which are 100% funded by the Central Government. However, under the Department of Expenditure’s SASCI scheme (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment – Creating Iconic Tourist Centres), the Ministry is said to have evaluated the project proposals submitted by the state governments.
To encourage private sector participation in the tourism sector, States were reportedly required to identify and share potential PPP projects at selected tourism destinations as part of the evaluation criteria.
Under the SASCI scheme, the Ministry has advised State Governments to determine the final carrying capacity by assessing both physical carrying capacity and limiting factors, as part of their DPR submission. The details of the projects sanctioned under SASCI, along with fund disbursal and estimated carrying capacity submitted by the State Governments, have been annexed.
