Lok Sabha Question No. 42 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Srisailam Pilgrimage
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari, Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.42

## ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## SRISAILAM PILGRIMAGE

- 42 DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  for  promotion  of religious tourism at Srisailam temple in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government  plans to start a pilgrimage circuit connecting temples of Andhra Pradesh such as Srisailam, Tirupathi, etc. if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  complete  list  of  new  pilgrimage  centers  planned  and  under consideration of the Government; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  data  regarding  the  improvement  of tourism infrastructure at temples of Andhra Pradesh using central funds, if so, the details of funds sanctioned and utilized during the last five years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM          (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (e): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  the  PRASAD  (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) Scheme in 2014-15 with the objective of developing infrastructure at pre-identified religious and heritage sites across the country.

Under  the  Scheme,  the  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for the development of tourism  infrastructure  at  these  sites.  The  Ministry  has  sanctioned  46

projects at a cost of Rs.1621.14 crore under the PRASAD Scheme.

The  Ministry  has  sanctioned  3  projects  in  Andhra  Pradesh  including 'Development  of  Srisailam  Temple'  at  the  cost  of  Rs.43.08  crore  along with 'Development of Pilgrim Amenities at Amaravati' and 'Development of  Pilgrimage  Amenities  at  Sri  Varaha  Lakshmi  Narsimha  Swami  Vari Devasthanam at Simhachalam' at the cost of Rs.27.77 crore and Rs.54.04

crore respectively. Projects at  Amaravati  and  Srisailam  has  been physically  completed  and  Rs.13.69  crore  has  been  released  for  the PRASHAD project in Simhachalam. Two sites named 'Annavaram, Kakinada District' and 'Vedagiri Lakshmi Narasimhawamy Temple, Nellore district' are identified for development under PRASHAD Scheme. A total of 3 projects have been sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme:  'Development  of  Kakinada  -  Hope  Island  -  Coringa  Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S. Yanam - Kotipally,' 'Development of Nellore -Pulikat Lake -Ubblamadugu  Water  Falls -Nelapattu -Kothakoduru - Mypadu - Ramateertham - Iskapalli,' and 'Development of Buddhist  Circuit:  Shalihundam  -  Bavikonda  -  Bojjanakonda  -  Amravati  Anupu,'  at  the  costs  of  Rs.67.83  crore,  Rs.49.55  crore,  and  Rs.35.24 crore,  respectively,  in  Andhra  Pradesh.  A  total  of  Rs.146.98  crore  has been  utilized  for  the  above  three  projects  under  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme. Additionally, 2 destinations,  Gandikota  and Araku-Lambasingi, have  been  identified  for  development  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0 Scheme. Among these, Araku-Lambasingi has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.29.87 crore under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme. Additionally, Nagarjuna Sagar and Ahobilam are identified for development in Andhra Pradesh under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a subscheme under Swadesh Darshan.

*******