PRASHAD Scheme, Features, Objectives, Achievements

The Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive, or the PRASHAD Scheme, was launched by the Government of India in 2014–15 to promote integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations across the country. Implemented by the Ministry of Tourism as a Central Sector Scheme, it focuses on improving pilgrimage infrastructure, enhancing visitor amenities and preserving the spiritual and cultural significance of religious sites.

The PRASHAD Scheme supports facilities such as access roads, sanitation, lighting, interpretation centres and other essential services to improve the overall pilgrim experience. By combining heritage conservation with sustainable tourism development, PRASHAD seeks to strengthen local economies, generate employment and promote India’s rich spiritual heritage. It also emphasises inclusive and well-planned destination development.

PRASHAD Scheme Overview

The full form of the PRASHAD Scheme is Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive.

• Launch: 2014-15.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Tourism.
• Scheme type/Funding: Central Sector Scheme (100% Central Funding).
• Primary focus: Integrated tourism infrastructure at identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
• Latest reported project count and estimated cost: 54 sanctioned projects and ₹1,726.74 crores.

PRASHAD Scheme Features

The PRASHAD Scheme follows a coordinated approach to destination development. It combines central financial assistance with state-level implementation, project approval, technical support and monitoring.

Integrated pilgrimage and heritage development

The scheme supports improvements to the facilities surrounding pilgrimage and heritage destinations, rather than limiting intervention to the attraction itself.

• Visitor amenities: Tourist facilitation centres, parking facilities, ghats, sound-and-light shows and other visitor services.
• Sanitation and waste management: Infrastructure such as sanitation facilities and solid-waste management systems to improve site cleanliness.
• Accessibility and safety: Better visitor access and facilities, including CCTV installations where projects provide for them.
• Environmental measures: Solar panels and related interventions were included in sanctioned projects.
• Local livelihoods: Improved tourism facilities can create opportunities for local businesses, service providers and traditional crafts.

Central funding and state responsibilities

PRASHAD is a Central Sector Scheme; however, states remain responsible for land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation, and long-term operation and maintenance of the infrastructure.

• A milestone-linked funds release structure: 30% after submission of the work order, 30% after the first utilisation certificate, 25% after the second utilisation certificate, 10% on completion and the final 5% after one year of successful operation and maintenance.

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PRASHAD Scheme Objectives

The PRASHAD Scheme aims to improve pilgrimage experiences while preserving the character of heritage destinations. Its objectives combine infrastructure, tourism services, local participation and regional economic development.

• Rejuvenate pilgrimage destinations: Improve facilities at important religious and heritage sites while strengthening their significance as destinations for pilgrims and visitors.
• Improve tourism infrastructure: Bridge infrastructure gaps through facilities that improve visitor access, convenience, cleanliness, safety and the overall tourism experience.
• Promote pilgrimage and heritage tourism: Make destinations more attractive and support tourism as a source of local economic activity.
• Generate local employment: Encourage livelihood opportunities for communities through tourism services, local businesses, crafts and related activities.
• Improve service quality: Strengthen amenities and service delivery so that destinations can manage visitors more effectively.
• Coordinate government efforts: Encourage convergence between Central and State initiatives and align projects with local infrastructure needs.
• Support local culture: Promote local arts, crafts and cultural traditions linked to pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
• Ensure timely implementation: Use project monitoring and approval mechanisms to improve execution and track progress.

HRIDAY Scheme vs PRASHAD Scheme

The HRIDAY scheme and the PRASHAD scheme both connect heritage-related development with better infrastructure, but their principal focus differs. HRIDAY addressed selected heritage cities, while PRASHAD focuses on tourism infrastructure at identified pilgrimage destinations.

PRASHAD Scheme Achievements

The PRASHAD Scheme has supported tourism infrastructure at pilgrimage and heritage destinations across India. Recent government reports record sanctioned projects, completed works and improvements to visitor facilities.

• Out of the 54 sanctioned projects under the PRASHAD Scheme, 32 were physically completed as of December 2025.
• Somnath Promenade: The promenade project, costing around ₹47.12 crore, is listed as completed in the government project record, strengthening Somnath as a major spiritual tourism destination.
• Kedarnath: Improvements in pilgrimage facilities, accessibility, sanitation, visitor services and tourism infrastructure across the Kedarnath circuit.
• Vishnupad Temple, Gaya: Basic facilities at Vishnupad Temple are physically and financially 100% complete.
• Amaravati and Kamakhya Temple: The development of pilgrim amenities at Amaravati and Kamakhya Temple is physically and financially 100% complete.
• IIM Rohtak’s 2021 evaluation of PRASHAD reported improvements in visitor satisfaction, ease of travel, aesthetic aspects and overall user experience at selected sites.

PRASHAD Scheme Challenges

PRASHAD scheme implementation challenges relate to delays, state-level capacity, fund-release requirements, connectivity and long-term maintenance.

• Project delays: Tendering delays, weak implementation capacity and shortcomings in project planning can slow execution.
• Pending documentation: Delays in submitting utilisation certificates can hold up subsequent fund releases and complicate monitoring.
• Last-mile connectivity: Infrastructure at a religious destination may not deliver its full benefit if visitors cannot reach it conveniently from wider transport networks.
• Maintenance responsibilities: Since states must arrange long-term operation and maintenance, facilities may require stronger financial and management planning after project completion.
• Uneven progress across projects: Substantial variation in the physical and financial progress of different projects.
  • For example, the Puri infrastructure project had ₹50 crore approved and ₹10 crore released, with physical progress reported at 27%, as of July 2025.

PRASHAD Scheme Way Forward

PRASHAD-supported destinations need to be better connected, easier to maintain and more responsive to local communities. Stronger project preparation and monitoring can help translate sanctioned funding into lasting public benefits.

• Improve project readiness: Complete surveys, designs, tender documents and implementation plans before execution begins to reduce avoidable delays.
• Strengthen monitoring: By closely following physical progress, financial progress, and utilisation certificates in relation to defined milestones, identify projects that are behind schedule at an early stage.
• Improve connectivity: Coordinate destination infrastructure with road, public transport and other relevant connectivity initiatives, including PM Gati Shakti where applicable.
• Plan maintenance from the start: States and implementing agencies should define responsibility, recurring costs and sustainable revenue or partnership models before projects are completed.
• Protect environmental quality: Integrate waste management, sanitation and suitable green infrastructure into destination development.
• Make local benefits visible: Include local communities, artisans, small businesses and tourism workers in planning and service provision so that development supports employment and cultural continuity.
• Outcomes-based expenditure: Monitor visitor convenience, safety, cleanliness, accessibility and community benefits alongside the number and cost of sanctioned projects.