Lok Sabha Question No. 300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Development of Buddhist Heritage Sites in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.300

## ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST HERITAGE SITES IN ANDHRA PRADESH

300.  DR. D. PURANDESWARI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  status  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  the  Swadesh Darshan  scheme  for  the  Coastal  and  Buddhist  circuits  in  Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the details of the development of the Buddhist heritage sites at Adurru and Kapavaram in the Godavari region;
- (c) the details of the measures taken/being taken to improve the last-mile connectivity and tourist amenities at these sites;
- (d) the status of the completion of the ongoing projects and the utilization of funds; and
- (e) the details of plan of the Government to promote the Buddhist heritage of Andhra Pradesh in the Southeast Asian countries?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (e):   While  development  and  promotion  of  tourism  destinations  and products  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  concerned  State  Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan (SD), 'Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)', 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub -scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme' and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  complements  the  efforts  of tourism infrastructure development in the country including those in Coastal and  Buddhist  Destinations  by extending  financial assistance  to the SGs/UTAs; on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union  Territory  Administration  in  synergy  with  the  scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. Projects  sanctioned  under  these  schemes  cover  multiple  components related to the development of tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences,  including  last-mile  connectivity,  depending  on  the  specific requirements of each project. Government of India under its 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) -Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' scheme,  has  also  sanctioned  projects  in  the  country  with  the  primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. The Ministry of Tourism holistically promotes various tourism destinations  and  products  of  the  country,  which  also  covers  Buddhist heritage in global markets including in Southeast Asian countries. The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  SD,  SD2.0,  CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the  state  of  Andhra  Pradesh  including

those in Buddhist and Coastal region is annexed.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.300 ANSWERED ON 02 . 02 . 2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST HERITAGE SITES IN ANDHRA PRADESH RAISED BY DR. D. PURANDESWARI

Details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  (SD),  SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the state of Andhra Pradesh:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

| Sche me/ Sub- sche me   |   S. No. | Name of the Project/ Experience                                                                                                        | Circuit/ Destination   | Year of sanct ion   |   Amou nt sancti oned | Amount Release d (R)/ utilized (U)/ Release d or authoriz ed for utilizati on (A)   | Status (Physically complete / implement ation stage   |
|-------------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Swad esh Darsh an (SD)  |        1 | Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam -                                  | Coastal Circuit        | 2014- 15            |                 67.83 | 67.83 (U)                                                                           | Physically complete                                   |
|                         |        2 | Kotipally Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - Ubblamadugu Water Falls - Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertha m - Iskapalli | Coastal Circuit        | 2015- 16            |                 49.55 | 49.55 (U)                                                                           | Physically complete                                   |

|       |   3. | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda -Amravati- Anupu                      | Buddhist Circuit    | 2017- 18   |   35.24 | 30.02 (U)   | Physically complete   |
|-------|------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|------------|---------|-------------|-----------------------|
| SD2.0 |    4 | Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience                                                                  | Bapatala            | 2024- 25   |   97.52 | 9.75 (A)    | implemen tation stage |
| SD2.0 |    5 | Borra Cave Experience at Araku                                                                              | Araku- Lambasingi   | 2023- 24   |   29.88 | 2.99 (A)    | implemen tation stage |
| CBDD  |    6 | Enriching Buddhist Heritage and Cultural Experiences at NagarjunaS agar (under Culture & Heritage category) | Nagarjuna Sagar     | 2024- 25   |   25    | 2.50 (A)    | implemen tation stage |
| CBDD  |    7 | Development of Abhobilam as a Spiritual Odyssey (under Spiritual Tourism category)                          | Ahobilam Temple     | 2024- 25   |   24.99 | 2.50 (A)    | implemen tation stage |
| SASCI |    8 | Enriching the Fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota                                                        | Gandikota           | 2024- 25   |   77.91 | 113.75 (A)  | implemen tation stage |
| SASCI |    9 | Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok                                                                                  | Raja Mahendrav aram | 2024- 25   |   94.44 |             | implemen tation stage |

|          |                                                                              | Bridge & Pushkar Ghat) in Raja Mahendrava ram                                                |                 |          |       |                   |                       |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------|-------|-------------------|-----------------------|
| PRAS HAD | 10.                                                                          | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination                      | Amaravati Town  | 2015- 16 | 27.77 | 27.77 (U)         | Physically complete   |
|          | 11.                                                                          | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                              | Srisailam       | 2017- 18 | 43.08 | 43.08 (U)         | Physically complete   |
|          | 12.                                                                          | Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami VariDevasth anam at Simhachala m in Vishakhapat nam Temple | Vishakhap atnam | 2022- 23 | 54.04 | 27.37 (U)         | implemen tation stage |
|          | 13.Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town | 13.Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town                 | Annavaram       | 2024- 25 | 25.33 | 6.74 (R) 2.04 (U) | implemen tation stage |

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