Lok Sabha Question No. 2003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-30
Subject: Linking of Mumbai-Aurangabad with Buddhist Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2003

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 30.07.2018

## LINKING OF MUMBAI-AURANGABAD WITH BUDDHIST CIRCUIT

†2003. SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE: ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  expand  Buddhist tourism  circuit  under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  to  21  more States  to  make  it  the  country's  first  transnational  tourist circuit recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether due to the expansion of Buddhist tourism circuit, the number of Buddhist tourists from the West, besides those from traditional  markets  in  South  East  are  likely  to  be  increased and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Mumbai-Aurangabad and Nagpur cities are proposed to be linked with Buddhist circuit; and
- (d) if  so, the details thereof along with the details of the amount spent  for  the  development  of  Buddhist  circuit  in  the  country during the last three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (d): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme  has  identified  Buddhist  circuit  as  one  of  the  thematic circuits  for  development  in  the  country.  All  sites  in  the  country associated with Buddhism are covered under this circuit.

The projects under the scheme are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/UT Administrations and are sanctioned  subject  to  availability of  funds,  submission  of suitable  detailed  project  reports,  adherence  to  scheme  guidelines and  utilization  of  funds  released  earlier.  Based  on  above  criteria, Ministry  has  sanctioned  following  projects  under  Buddhist  Circuit theme:

(Rs. in Crore)

| S. No.   | State & Year           | Project Name                                                                                        |   Amt. Sanctioned |   Amt. Released |
|----------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| 1.       | Madhya Pradesh 2016-17 | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi- Satna- Rewa- Mandsaur- Dhar                              |             74.94 |           37.47 |
| 2.       | Uttar Pradesh 2016-17  | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Srawasti- Kushinagar- Kapilvastu                                   |             99.97 |           19.99 |
| 3.       | Bihar 2016-17          | Construction of Convention Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya          |             98.73 |           19.75 |
| 4.       | Gujarat 2017-18        | Development of Buddhist circuit: Junagadh- Gir- Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana  |             35.99 |            7.2  |
| 5.       | Andhra Pradesh 2017-18 | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu |             52.34 |           10.47 |
| Total    | Total                  | Total                                                                                               |            361.97 |           94.88 |

The  projects  under  the  scheme  are  sanctioned  with  the objective to develop the circuits in a planned/prioritized manner and enhancing visitor experience/satisfaction at the destinations which in  turn  is  expected  to  increase  the  domestic  and  international tourist footfalls at the sites.

*********