**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government of India's response to a parliamentary question regarding the development of Buddhist heritage sites in Andhra Pradesh. The response, dated February 2, 2026, details the status of projects sanctioned under various tourism schemes. It also provides an annexure listing sanctioned projects, their costs, and implementation status.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourism Development Approach:**
* The development and promotion of tourism destinations and products are primarily undertaken by State Governments (SGs) and Union Territory Administrations (UTAs).
* The Ministry of Tourism complements these efforts through central sector schemes.
* **Central Sector Schemes Involved:**
* Schemes include ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD),’ ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0),’ ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD),’ and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD).’
* 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' is also included.
* Financial assistance is extended to SGs/UTAs based on project proposals, scheme guidelines, government directions, and fund availability.
* **Project Sanctions and Scope:**
* Projects sanctioned cover multiple components related to tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences, including last-mile connectivity.
* The Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism destinations globally, including Buddhist heritage in Southeast Asian countries.
* **Annexure Details:**
* The annexure lists projects sanctioned under the SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD, and SASCI schemes in Andhra Pradesh.
* Details include the project name, circuit/destination, year of sanction, amount sanctioned, amount released/utilized, and implementation status.
* **Project Status Examples (from Annexure):**
* Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Coastal Circuit (2014-15): Physically complete.
* Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience (2024-25): Implementation stage.
* Enriching the Fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota (2024-25): Implementation stage.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments (SGs) and Union Territory Administrations (UTAs)**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for the development and promotion of tourism destinations and products, including identifying and proposing projects.
* **Action Required:** To continue developing and submitting project proposals in synergy with scheme guidelines and government directions, and to ensure effective implementation and utilization of sanctioned funds for tourism infrastructure development.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** Responsible for complementing the efforts of SGs/UTAs by providing financial assistance and promoting tourism destinations and products in the country.
* **Action Required:** To continue managing and administering central sector schemes, assessing project proposals, sanctioning funds, and promoting tourism destinations globally.
Key Entities Referenced
Swadesh Darshan: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in India.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A scheme that focuses on infrastructure development at pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
Andhra Pradesh: The state where the Buddhist heritage sites development projects are located.
Ministry of Tourism: The government body responsible for tourism policies and initiatives in India.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): A scheme for the development of iconic tourist centers.
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
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(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 componentsrelated 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.
*****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 S. Name of the Circuit/ Year Amou Amount Status
me/ No. Project/ Destination of nt Release (Physically
Sub- Experience sanct sancti d (R)/ complete /
sche ion oned utilized implement
me (U)/ ation stage
Release
d or
authoriz
ed for
utilizati
on (A)
Swad 1 Development Coastal 2014- 67.83 67.83 Physically
esh of Kakinada - Circuit 15 (U) complete
Darsh Hope Island -
an Coringa
(SD) Wildlife
Sanctuary -
Passarlapudi -
Aduru - S
Yanam –
Kotipally
2. Development Coastal 2015- 49.55 49.55 Physically
of Nellore - Circuit 16 (U) complete
Pulikat Lake -
Ubblamadugu
Water Falls –
Nelapattu-
Kothakoduru-
Mypadu -
Ramateertha
m – Iskapalli3. Development Buddhist 2017- 35.24 30.02 Physically
of Buddhist Circuit 18 (U) complete
Circuit:
Shalihundam-
Bavikonda-
Bojjanakonda
-Amravati-
Anupu
SD2.0 4. Development Bapatala 2024- 97.52 9.75 implemen
of Suryalanka 25 (A) tation
Beach stage
Experience
5. Borra Cave Araku- 2023- 29.88 2.99 implemen
Experience Lambasingi 24 (A) tation
at Araku stage
CBDD 6. Enriching Nagarjuna 2024- 25.00 2.50 implemen
Buddhist Sagar 25 (A) tation
Heritage stage
and Cultural
Experiences
at
NagarjunaS
agar (under
Culture &
Heritage
category)
7. Development Ahobilam 2024- 24.99 2.50 implemen
of Abhobilam Temple 25 (A) tation
as a Spiritual stage
Odyssey
(under
Spiritual
Tourism
category)
SASCI 8. Enriching Gandikota 2024- 77.91 implemen
the Fort and 25 tation
Gorge 113.75 stage
Experience (A)
in Gandikota
9. Akhanda Raja 2024- 94.44 implemen
Godavari- Mahendrav 25 tation
(Havelok aram stageBridge &
Pushkar
Ghat) in
Raja
Mahendrava
ram
PRAS 10. Development Amaravati 2015- 27.77 27.77 Physically
HAD of Amaravati Town 16 (U) complete
Town, Guntur
District as a
Tourist
Destination
11. Development Srisailam 2017- 43.08 43.08 Physically
of Srisailam 18 (U) complete
Temple
12. Sri Varaha Vishakhap 2022- 54.04 27.37 implemen
Lakshmi atnam 23 (U) tation
Narsimha stage
Swami
VariDevasth
anam at
Simhachala
m in
Vishakhapat
nam Temple
13. Development Annavaram 2024- 25.33 6.74 implemen
of Pilgrimage 25 (R) tation
Tourism 2.04 stage
Infrastructure (U)
in Annavaram
Temple Town
*****