Srinagar, Jul 27 (KNO): The Government of India (GoI) has sanctioned multiple tourism infrastructure projects for Jammu and Kashmir under various flagship schemes, including Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD, with several destinations across the Union Territory receiving central financial assistance.
According to information tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Tourism, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the primary responsibility for developing tourism destinations rests with States and Union Territory administrations, while the Centre supplements these efforts through schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD, Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) and SASCI.
The ministry said these schemes focus on improving tourism infrastructure, connectivity, sanitation, safety and visitor amenities while promoting sustainable and responsible tourism. It also informed Parliament that the National Board for Sustainable Tourism has been constituted to coordinate sustainable tourism initiatives, while the Travel for LiFE programme encourages environmentally responsible tourism practices.
As per the annexure to the parliamentary reply, Jammu and Kashmir received sanction for several projects under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. These include development of the Jammu-Srinagar-Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar-Anantnag-Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh circuit at a sanctioned cost of ₹77.33 crore, development of tourist facilities in Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama at ₹81.60 crore, construction of tourism assets damaged in the 2014 floods under the Prime Minister's Development Package at ₹90.43 crore, development of tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev at ₹91.99 crore, tourism infrastructure in Anantnag-Pulwama-Kishtwar-Pahalgam-Zanskar Padum-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam at ₹86.39 crore, and development of tourist facilities in Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Kargil-Leh at ₹96.75 crore.
The ministry further informed Parliament that under the PRASHAD scheme, the Centre sanctioned ₹40.46 crore for the development of Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, of which ₹34.30 crore has been released and utilised.
The reply also noted that no project from Jammu and Kashmir figures in the lists of projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, CBDD and SASCI included in the latest parliamentary statement—(KNO)