Lok Sabha Question No. 1378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Tourism Development in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Shri G M Harish Balayogi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .

## 1378 ANSWERED ON 28 . 07 . 2025

## TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 1378. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY: SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  identified  specific  sites  in  Prakasam and Konaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh for tourism development;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  nature  of  tourism  being promoted at each location;
- (c) whether  any  development  or  infrastructure  projects  sanctioned  or under implementation for promoting tourism in the said districts and, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  released  for  these  projects during the last five years and the current year;
- (e) whether the Government is collaborating with the private stakeholders for the promotion of tourism in the said districts, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the  details  of  the  steps  taken / being  taken  to  improve  last -mile connectivity  and  promote  homestays / local  livelihoods  in  the  said districts?

## ANSWER

( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

)

(a) to (f): Development and Promotion of tourist destinations and tourism products  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Government/ Union  Territory  (UT)  Administration.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism through  its  central  sector  schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan(SD)',  Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)', 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)' a  subscheme  of  Swadesh  Darshan  and  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  complements  the efforts of tourism infrastructure  development  by  extending  financial assistance  to  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations;  subject  to availability  of  funds,  adherence  to  scheme  guidelines,  submission  of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) by the State Government etc.

In  addition,  Government  of  India  under  its  initiative  for  'Special Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI)'  has  also  provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects. The projects    sanctioned    under  the  schemes    include    multiple  components related to  augmentation of  tourism  facilities  and  amenities  including last mile connectivity. The details  of  the  projects    sanctioned    along -with  funds  allocated and  released  under  Swadesh  Darshan,  SD2 . 0,    PRASHAD,  CBDD    and SASCI  scheme in the state of  Andhra Pradesh is  Annexed . With  the  aim  to  promote  tourism  in  tribal  areas,  the  Ministry  of Tourism has recently issued guidelines for 'Development of Homestays in Tribal  Areas'  along  with  template  for  formulation  of  proposal  by  State Governments and UT Administrations. The private players in the industry have  launched  various  online  portals  or  OTAs  which  also  offer  booking facilities, including booking of homestays .

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO . 1378  ANSWERED  ON  28 . 07 . 2025  REGARDING  TOURISM DEVELOPMENT  IN ANDHRA  PRADESH  RAISED BY SHRI  MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY AND SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI

Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the State of Andhra Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Circuit / Sanction Year    | Name of the Project                                                                                                           | Sanctioned Cost   | Amount Released / Authorized   |
|------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------|
|          1 | Coastal Circuit 2014 - 15  | Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam - Kotipally               | 67 . 83           | 67 . 83                        |
|          2 | Coastal Circuit 2015 - 16  | Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - Ubblamadugu Water Falls - Nelapattu - Kothakoduru - Mypadu - Ramateertham - Iskapalli | 49 . 55           | 49 . 55                        |
|          3 | Buddhist Circuit 2017 - 18 | Development of Buddhist Circuit : Shalihundam - Bavikonda - Bojjanakonda - Amravati - Anupu                                   | 35 . 24           | 30.02                          |

Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2 . 0  Scheme in the State of Andhra Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

| S . No .   | Year of Sanction   | Destination        | Name of the Experience                     | Sanctioned Cost   |   Amount Authorized |
|------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|
| 1 .        | 2024 - 25          | Bapatala           | Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience | 97 . 52           |                9.75 |
| 2.         | 2023 - 24          | Araku - Lambasingi | Borra Cave Experience at Araku             | 29 . 87           |                2.99 |

Details of Project sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination Development ( CBDD ) Scheme in the State of Andhra Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

| S . No .   | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                                    | Sanctioned Cost   |   Amount Authorized |
|------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|
| 1 .        | 2024 - 25          | Ahobilam - A spiritual Odyssey                                         | 25 . 00           |                 2.5 |
| 2.         | 2024 - 25          | Enriching Buddhist Heritage and Cultural Experiences at NagarjunaSagar | 25 . 00           |                 2.5 |

Details  of  Projects  sanctioned  under  Special  Assistance  to  States  for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme in the State of Andhra Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                                        | Sanctioned Cost   |   Amount Released |
|------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|          1 | 2024 - 25          | Enriching the fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota                       | 77 . 91           |            113.75 |
|          2 | 2024 - 25          | Akhanda Godavari - ( Havelok Bridge & PushkarGhat ) in Raja Mahendravaram, | 94 . 44           |            113.75 |

Details  of  Project  sanctioned  under  PRASHAD  Scheme  in  the  State  of Andhra Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

|   S . No . | Name of the Project                                                                       | Sanction Year   | Sanctioned Cost   | Amount Released   |
|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|          1 | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination                   | 2015 - 16       | 27 . 77           | 27 . 77           |
|          2 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                           | 2017 - 18       | 43 . 08           | 43 . 08           |
|          3 | Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami VariDevasthanam at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple | 2022 - 23       | 54 . 04           | 27.37             |
|          4 | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town                 | 2024 - 25       | 25 . 33           | 0.00              |

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