JAMMU: Centre will develop Katra and Hazratbal of Jammu and Kashmir, under the PRASHAD scheme launched by Centre for pilgrimage sites. The tourism ministry has identified as many as 26 sites/cities in 19 states for development.
The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations under the schemes of Swadesh Darshan, National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Assistance to Central Agencies for the development of tourism-related infrastructure in the country.
“The Scheme of Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development aims at developing tourism-related infrastructure through central financial assistance to the Central Agencies who own the assets,” said Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism K. J. Alphons in Lok Sabha.
Other religious cities/sites in been identified for development include Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), Dwarka and Somnath (Gujarat), Gurudwara Nada Saheb (Haryana), Deogarh (Jharkhand), Chamundeshwari Devi (Karnataka), Guruvayoor (Kerala), Una (Himachal Pradesh), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu), Varanasi and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Badrinath and Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Belur (West Bengal).
