Lok Sabha Question No. 187 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Theme Based Tourist Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*187 ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## THEME BASED TOURIST CIRCUIT

*187 SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the Kadapa District;
- (b)
- (c) the projects taken up and the status of those projects?

the details of the Tourism Circuits selected by the Government in  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  with  particular  reference  to whether the Government has decided to select these projects under Theme-based tourist circuits, if so, the number of tourist places identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, in the State of Andhra Pradesh, especially in Kadapa District; and the details of the amount of financial assistance provided for each integrated tourist circuit, the funds released so far and

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (c):    A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*******

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*187 ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024 REGARDING THEME BASED TOURIST CIRCUIT RAISED BY SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY.

(a) to (c):   The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan  (SD)'  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 including the State of  Andhra Pradesh. The Ministry of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  3  projects  each  under  its  Swadesh Darshan  and  PRASHAD  schemes  in  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh. Further,  under  its  scheme  of  'Assistance  to  Central Agencies',  the Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  2  projects  in  Andhra  Pradesh. The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  SD,  PRASHAD  and Assistance to Central Agencies schemes are annexed.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  recently  revamped  the  Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & tourism-centric approach. In consultation with  the  States/UTs  and  in  line  with  the  scheme  guidelines,  the Ministry has accordingly identified 57 destinations in the country for development  under SD  2.0 including 'Gandikota' and 'ArakkuLambassingi'  in  Andhra  Pradesh  and  has  sanctioned  following projects/interventions  in  the  financial  year  2023-24  at  ArakkuLambasingi:

| Destination        | Project/Interventions Name     |   Cost (Amount in ₹ crore) | Physical Status      |
|--------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------|
| Arakku- Lambasingi | Borra Cave Experience at Araku |                      29.87 | Under Implementation |

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  also  issued  guidelines  for  'Challenge Based Destination Development' (CBDD), a sub-scheme under Swadesh  Darshan  2.0,  under  which  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has identified 42 destinations for development in the country including 'Nagarjuna  Sagar'  and  'Ahobilam  Temple'  in  Andhra  Pradesh.  The Ministry  has  further  identified  'Annavaram,  Kakinada  District'  and 'Vedagiri  Lakshmi  Narasimhaswamy  Temple,  Nellore  District'  in Andhra Pradesh for development under PRASHAD scheme.

*****

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.*187  ANSWERED  ON  05.08.2024  REGARDING  THEME BASED TOURIST CIRCUIT RAISED BY SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY.

The  list  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  in Andhra Pradesh is as under:-

(Amount in ₹ crore)

|   Sl. No. | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                         |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released/ Authorized | Physical Status      |
|-----------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------|
|         1 | Coastal Circuit 2014-15   | Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam - Kotipally             |               67.83 |                         67.83 | Complete             |
|         2 | Coastal Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - Ubblamadugu Water Falls - Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham - Iskapalli |               49.55 |                         49.55 | Complete             |
|         3 | Buddhist Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda - Amravati- Anupu                                     |               35.24 |                         30.03 | Under implementation |

1.

2.

The list of the projects sanctioned under PRASHAD scheme in Andhra Pradesh is as under:-

(Amount in ₹ crore)

|   Sl. No. | Project Name                                                                                             | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |   Amount Released | Physical Progress     |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | Development of Pilgrim Amenities at Amaravati                                                            | 2015-16         |           27.77 |             27.77 | Complete              |
|         2 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                                          | 2017-18         |           43.08 |             43.08 | Complete              |
|         3 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami Vari Devasthanam at Simhachalam | 2022-23         |           54.04 |             13.69 | Under implementat ion |

List  of  Projects  Sanctioned  under  the  Scheme  Assistance  to  Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development in Andhra Pradesh

## (Amount in ₹ crore)

|   Sl. No. | Year     | Name of Project                                                               | Agency                    |   Amount sanctioned |   Amount Released | Status                |
|-----------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | 2017- 18 | Sound and Light Show at Puttaparthy, Andhra Pradesh                           | ITDC                      |                7.08 |              3.53 | Completed             |
|         2 | 2018- 19 | Construction of Cruise Berth at Channel Berth in outer Harbour of patnam Port | Visakhap atnam Port Trust |               38.5  |             29.91 | Under Implement ation |

*****