Lok Sabha Question No. 2462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Inclusion of Buddhist Site at Adurru in Buddhist Tourism Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri G M Harish Balayogi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2462 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## INCLUSION OF BUDDHIST SITE AT ADURRU IN BUDDHIST TOURISM CIRCUIT

## 2462. SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to include the Buddhist site at Adurru  in  Konaseema  district  of  Andhra  Pradesh  in  the  Buddhist Tourism Circuit;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  proposed  interventions  and estimated timelines for their implementation;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  feasibility  study  or assessment regarding the site's potential for inclusion in the Buddhist Circuit;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposals  regarding  the development of the said site, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                 (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (f): Development and promotion of tourist destinations is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry of Tourism through its ongoing schemes of 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)',  'Swadesh  Darshan' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' complements the efforts of the State Governments (SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs)  by  extending  financial  assistance  to  SGs/UTs/Central  Agencies  for tourism infrastructure development.

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned the project 'Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam -Kotipally' for  an  amount of Rs.67.84 crore on 31.03.2015 under the Coastal Circuit  theme  of  Swadesh  Darshan  1.0  Scheme.  The  major  components sanctioned  at  Aduru  are  Floating  jetty,  Concrete  Wharf,  Approach  Road, Waiting Lounge, Information Centre, Illumination and Electrification. Receiving  proposals  from  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for financial  assistance  for  tourism  projects  is  a  continuous  process.  The proposals received are examined with reference to the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance is extended for such projects subject to fulfillment of the  stipulated  conditions  and  availability  of  funds.  Ministry  of  Tourism  has sanctioned various infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh which are given in the Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2462 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025 REGARDING INCLUSION OF BUDDHIST  SITE  AT  ADURRU  IN  BUDDHIST  TOURISM  CIRCUIT  RAISED  BY SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI.

List of Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Schemein Andhra Pradesh

(Rs. In Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Name of the Project                                                                       |   Sanction Cost |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
|         1 | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination                   |           27.77 |
|         2 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                           |           43.08 |
|         3 | Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami VariDevasthanam at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple |           54.04 |
|         4 | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town                 |           25.33 |

List of Projects sanctioned under SwadeshDarshan Schemein Andhra Pradesh

(Rs. In Crore)

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

## List  of  Projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  Scheme  in  Andhra Pradesh

(Rs. In Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Destination       | Name of the Experience                     |   Sanctioned Cost |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Bapatala          | Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience |             97.52 |
|         2 | Araku- Lambasingi | Borra Cave Experience at Araku             |             29.87 |

List of Projects sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) in Andhra Pradesh

(Rs. In Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Name of the Project                                                    |   Sanctioned Cost |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Ahobilam-A spiritual Odyssey                                           |                25 |
|         2 | Enriching Buddhist Heritage and Cultural Experiences at NagarjunaSagar |                25 |

List  of  Projects  sanctioned  under  Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital Investment (SASCI Scheme) in Andhra Pradesh

(Rs. In Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Name of the Project                                                    |   Sanctioned Cost |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Enriching the fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota                   |             77.91 |
|         2 | Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok Bridge &PushkarGhat) in Raja Mahendravaram, |             94.44 |

List  of  projects  sanctioned  under  'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for Infrastructure Development' in Andhra Pradesh

(Rs. In Crore)

|   Sr. No. | Name of the Project                                                                                           |   Sanctioned Cost |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Sound and Light Show at Puttaparthy, Andhra Pradesh                                                           |              7.08 |
|         2 | Construction of Cruise-Cum-Costal Cargo Terminal at Channel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam Port |             38.5  |
|         3 | Tirupati Railway Station                                                                                      |              5.75 |

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