**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the development of Buddhist heritage sites and tourism initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, supported by the Ministry of Tourism through various central sector schemes. It details projects sanctioned under schemes like Swadesh Darshan (SD), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD). The information was provided to Lok Sabha on February 2nd, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ministry of Tourism Schemes:**
* The Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism through central sector schemes such as Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), and PRASHAD.
* These schemes provide financial assistance to States/Union Territories for tourism infrastructure development, including coastal and Buddhist destinations.
* Projects cover multiple components, including last-mile connectivity.
* **Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI):**
* The Government of India sanctioned projects under SASCI to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centers.
* The aim is to brand and market these centers globally.
* **Projects Sanctioned in Andhra Pradesh:**
* The document lists projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD, and SASCI schemes in Andhra Pradesh.
* Projects include development of coastal circuits, Buddhist circuits, and heritage sites.
* Each project listing includes the name, circuit/destination, year of sanction, amount sanctioned, amount released/utilized, and status (physically complete or implementation stage).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA)
* **Impact:** Benefit from financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development.
* **Action Required:** Submit project proposals in line with scheme guidelines to receive funding and manage the implementation of projects.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Tourism
* **Impact:** Responsible for promoting tourism destinations and products, including Buddhist heritage.
* **Action Required:** Provide financial assistance and oversee the implementation of sanctioned projects.
**Stakeholder:** Local Communities and Businesses in Andhra Pradesh
* **Impact:** Potential for economic growth and improved infrastructure due to tourism development.
* **Action Required:** Participate in and support tourism initiatives, leverage opportunities for local businesses.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: Central ministry responsible for tourism development in India and administrator of schemes mentioned.
Swadesh Darshan (SD): Central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for tourism destination development.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Scheme by Government of India for capital investment in states, focusing on iconic tourist centres.
Andhra Pradesh: State where the listed projects are being implemented.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): Central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism focused on pilgrimage and heritage tourism.
Ministry of Tourism
Development of Buddhist Heritage Sites in
Andhra Pradesh
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 2:34PM by PIB Delhi
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.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha on 2nd February 2026.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
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)Scheme/ S. Name of the Circuit/ Year of Amount Amount Status
Sub- No. Project/ Destination sanction sanctioned Released (Physicall
scheme Experience (R)/ complete
utilized implemen
(U)/ stage
Released
or
authorized
for
utilization
(A)
Swadesh 1 Development of Coastal Circuit 2014-15 67.83 67.83 (U) Physically
Darshan Kakinada - Hope complete
(SD) Island - Coringa
Wildlife Sanctuary
- Passarlapudi -
Aduru - S Yanam –
Kotipally
2. Development of Coastal Circuit 2015-16 49.55 49.55 Physically
Nellore - Pulikat complete
(U)
Lake -
UbblamaduguWater
Falls – Nelapattu-
Kothakoduru-
Mypadu -
Ramateertham –
Iskapalli
3. Development of Buddhist Circuit 2017-18 35.24 30.02 Physically
Buddhist Circuit: complete
(U)
Shalihundam-
Bavikonda-
Bojjanakonda -
Amravati- Anupu
SD2.0 4. Development of Bapatala 2024-25 97.52 9.75 (A) implemen
Suryalanka Beach stage
Experience
5. Borra Cave Araku- 2023-24 29.88 2.99 (A) implemen
Experience at Lambasingi stage
ArakuCBDD 6. Enriching NagarjunaSagar 2024-25 25.00 2.50 (A) implemen
Buddhist stage
Heritage and
Cultural
Experiences at
NagarjunaSagar
(under Culture &
Heritage
category)
7. Development of Ahobilam 2024-25 24.99 2.50 (A) implemen
Abhobilam as a Temple stage
Spiritual Odyssey
(under Spiritual
Tourism category)
SASCI 8. Enriching the Gandikota 2024-25 77.91 implemen
Fort and Gorge stage
Experience in
113.75
Gandikota
(A)
9. Akhanda Raja 2024-25 94.44 implemen
Godavari- Mahendravaram stage
(Havelok Bridge
& Pushkar Ghat)
in Raja
MahendravaramPRASHAD 10. Development of Amaravati 2015-16 27.77 27.77 (U) Physically
Amaravati Town, Town complete
Guntur District as a
Tourist Destination
11. Development of Srisailam 2017-18 43.08 43.08 Physically
Srisailam Temple complete
(U)
12. Sri Varaha Vishakhapatnam 2022-23 54.04 27.37 (U) implemen
Lakshmi stage
Narsimha Swami
VariDevasthanam
at Simhachalam
in
Vishakhapatnam
Temple
13. Development of Annavaram 2024-25 25.33 6.74 (R) implemen
Pilgrimage Tourism stage
2.04 (U)
Infrastructure in
Annavaram Temple
Town
(Release ID: 2223045) Visitor Counter : 172
Read this release in: Urdu