Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Tourism responded to a question regarding the inclusion of the Buddhist site at Adurru in Andhra Pradesh in the Buddhist Tourism Circuit. While the Ministry doesn't directly develop tourist destinations, it supports state efforts through schemes like PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan. A project including Adurru was sanctioned in 2015 under the Swadesh Darshan 1.0 Scheme. The Ministry considers proposals for financial assistance from State Governments and UT Administrations on an ongoing basis.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Government's Role:**
* The Ministry of Tourism supports State Governments/UT Administrations efforts by extending financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development.
* **Adurru Project:**
* A project including Adurru was sanctioned on 31.03.2015 for Rs. 67.84 crore under the Swadesh Darshan 1.0 Scheme Coastal Circuit.
* Key components sanctioned at Adurru: Floating jetty, Concrete Wharf, Approach Road, Waiting Lounge, Information Centre, Illumination and Electrification.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* The Ministry receives proposals for financial assistance from State Governments/UT Administrations for tourism projects on a continuous basis.
* Financial assistance is extended based on prescribed guidelines, fulfillment of conditions, and availability of funds.
* **Projects Sanctioned in Andhra Pradesh (Under various schemes):**
* Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme: Amaravati, Srisailam, Simhachalam, and Annavaram.
* Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Coastal and Buddhist Circuits.
* Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme: Suryalanka Beach and Araku-Borra Cave-Lambasingi.
* Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): Ahobilam and NagarjunaSagar.
* Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme: Gandikota and Raja Mahendravaram.
* Assistance to Central Agencies for Infrastructure Development: Puttaparthy, Visakhapatnam Port and Tirupati Railway Station.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/UT Administrations:
* Impact: Can receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism for tourism infrastructure development projects.
* Action Required: Submit proposals to the Ministry of Tourism for projects, ensuring they meet the prescribed guidelines and conditions.
Citizens/Tourists:
* Impact: Improved tourism infrastructure and facilities at destinations like Adurru and other sites in Andhra Pradesh, enhancing the tourism experience.
* Action Required: None.
Key Entities Referenced
Adurru, Andhra Pradesh: A Buddhist site located in Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh, considered for inclusion in the Buddhist Tourism Circuit.
Buddhist Tourism Circuit: A tourism initiative focused on promoting Buddhist sites and destinations.
SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about the inclusion of Adurru in the Buddhist Tourism Circuit.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive PRASHAD: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for developing and promoting pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
Swadesh Darshan: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism to develop theme-based tourist circuits in India.
Kakinada Hope Island Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Passarlapudi Aduru S Yanam Kotipally: A project sanctioned under the Coastal Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan 1.0 Scheme, for which Rs.67.84 crore was allocated.
Amaravati Town, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh: A town in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, being developed as a tourist destination under the PRASHAD scheme.
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 componentssanctioned 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.
*****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. Name of the Project Sanction Cost
No.
1 Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a 27.77
Tourist Destination
2 Development of Srisailam Temple 43.08
3 Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami VariDevasthanam 54.04
at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple
4 Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in 25.33
Annavaram Temple Town
List of Projects sanctioned under SwadeshDarshan Schemein Andhra
Pradesh
(Rs. In Crore)
Sr. Circuit Name/ Name of the Project Sanctioned
No. Sanction Year Cost
1 Coastal Circuit Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - 67.83
2014-15 Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary -
Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam –
Kotipally
2 Coastal Circuit Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - 49.55
2015-16 Ubblamadugu Water Falls – Nelapattu-
Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham–
Iskapalli
3 Buddhist Circuit Development of Buddhist Circuit: 35.24
2017-18 Shalihundam- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda -
Amravati- AnupuList of Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme in Andhra
Pradesh
(Rs. In Crore)
Sr. Destination Name of the Experience Sanctioned
No. Cost
1 Bapatala Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience 97.52
2 Araku- Borra Cave Experience at Araku 29.87
Lambasingi
List of Projects sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination Development
(CBDD) in Andhra Pradesh
(Rs. In Crore)
Sr. Sanctioned
Name of the Project
No. Cost
1 Ahobilam-A spiritual Odyssey 25.00
Enriching Buddhist Heritage and Cultural Experiences
2 25.00
at NagarjunaSagar
List of Projects sanctioned under Special Assistance to States for Capital
Investment (SASCI Scheme) in Andhra Pradesh
(Rs. In Crore)
Sr. Name of the Project Sanctioned
No. Cost
1 Enriching the fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota 77.91
2 Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok Bridge &PushkarGhat) in 94.44
Raja Mahendravaram,
List of projects sanctioned under ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for
Infrastructure Development’ in Andhra Pradesh
(Rs. In Crore)
Sr. Name of the Project Sanctioned
No. Cost
1 Sound and Light Show at Puttaparthy, Andhra Pradesh 7.08
2 Construction of Cruise-Cum-Costal Cargo Terminal at 38.50
Channel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam
Port
3 Tirupati Railway Station 5.75
*****