Karnataka's Devika Rani Estate, Savadatti Yallammagudda among 23 sites chosen for tourism centre development

New Delhi: The Devika Rani Estate at Bengaluru’s Tataguni and Belgavi’s Savadatti Yallammagudda are among 23 spots that the ministry of tourism has chosen to give special financial assistance to in order to develop them.

The two sites are part of the Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI), an endeavour by the Centre to develop iconic tourist centres to global scale.

While the government will spend Rs 99.17 crore to develop an ecotourism and cultural hub at the Roerich and Devika Rani Estate, the financial grant for the development of Savadatti Yallammagudda is Rs 100 crore.

The government said that the aim of this scheme is to infuse long term interest free loans for a period of 50 years to the states to develop iconic tourist centers in the country, and then brand and market them at global scale. “By infusing capital investment in the form of projects, the scheme further envisages growth of local economy and creation of employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects,” the ministry said in a release.

Over 87 projects have been submitted under the scheme, totalling worth Rs 8000 crore. The Ministry of Tourism shortlisted 40 projects across 23 States for Rs 3295.76 crore. States have been given a timeline of two years to complete the projects and all the funds will be released before March 2026.

The ministry said that the scheme was addressing overcrowding at popular destinations, and that, by encouraging state governments to identify alternative locations for tourism development, this initiative will ease pressure on high-traffic sites. “By focusing on lesser-known destinations, the Ministry hopes to enhance the overall tourism experience, boost local economies, and ensure sustainable growth in the tourism sector through a strategic approach to new project selection,” the release stated.

Other projects in the scheme include Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh, an adventure retreat in Arunachal’s Pasighat, Jal Mahal in Rajasthan, Loktak Lake in Manipur, Ashtamudi Biodiversity park in Kerala, a tented city at Gujarat’s Dhordo, among others.