Tourism Ministry's SASCI Scheme for Iconic Tourist Centers
The Ministry of Tourism has implemented the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)-Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale initiative scheme with the objective of developing iconic tourist centers across India. The scheme operates with 100% central funding and involves comprehensive project evaluation parameters including connectivity to site, existing tourism ecosystem, carrying capacity, utility services availability, and projected impact metrics such as expected increase in tourist footfall, tourist spending, employment generation, and private investment attraction.
FY2024-25 Project Allocations
For financial year 2024-25, the Government of India sanctioned 40 projects across 23 states with a total allocation of ₹3295.76 crore. The projects show varying stages of implementation with physical progress ranging from 0% to 100%. Notable projects include Gujarat's Tent City and Convention Centre in Dhordo (100% physically completed), Andhra Pradesh's Gandikota Fort and Gorge Experience (83% complete with ₹13.75 crore released of ₹77.91 crore sanctioned), and Maharashtra's INS-Guldar Underwater Museum (55% complete with ₹46.05 crore released of ₹46.91 crore sanctioned).
FY2025-26 Amendments and Allocations
The Department of Expenditure amended SASCI guidelines for 2025-26, making states that did not avail funds under Part-III of SASCI 2024-25 eligible for special assistance of up to ₹250 crore for tourism projects under Part-II. Accordingly, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Himachal Pradesh each received ₹250 crore, totaling ₹750 crore for FY2025-26, with the full sanctioned amount already released to all three states.
Monitoring and Implementation Framework
The scheme features a robust monitoring framework including a Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) and Mission Directorate (MD) with representation from multiple ministries including Culture, Housing and Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation, Road Transport and Highways, Ports, Environment and Forests, Rural Development, Railways, and the Archaeological Survey of India to ensure convergence and coordinated development. The Ministry has also developed a Program Management Information System (PMIS) as a unified digital platform for seamless information, communication, sharing, and reporting for all destination development schemes.
Project Details and Progress Tracking
The annexure provides detailed state-wise project information including sanctioned costs, amounts released, work status, physical progress percentages, sanction dates, and expected completion dates. Projects span diverse tourism segments including eco-tourism, heritage development, adventure tourism, convention centers, and cultural hubs across all regions of India, with expected completion dates ranging from August 2026 to March 2028.