PAC criticizes Tourism Ministry for Swadesh Darshan failures

Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticized the Indian Tourism Ministry for poorly handling the Swadesh Darshan scheme. This flagship program, launched in 2014, aimed to develop tourist routes across the country. Between 2014 and 2019, 76 projects were approved for about ₹5,292.57 crore in 31 States and Union Territories. The PAC's comments followed a review of a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which pointed out serious issues in the scheme's planning and execution. The report noted that the government did not conduct feasibility studies before starting the projects. It also mentioned that the government exceeded the budget due to inadequate planning and approved projects without proper reports. During a recent meeting, the Tourism Ministry claimed that 75 out of 76 projects were completed. However, PAC members disputed this, stating many projects, such as the Kanwaria route in Bihar and the Tribal circuit in Telangana, remain unfinished or non-functional. One committee member accused the Ministry of trying to mislead them instead of addressing the real issues. The PAC has instructed the Ministry to conduct a physical inspection of all projects. They requested a detailed report within three weeks, including the actual status of each project, its maintenance, and its impact on employment and tourist numbers.