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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 2^nd February 2026.

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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/ Sub-scheme	S. No.	Name of the Project/ Experience	Circuit/ Destination	Year of sanction	Amount sanctioned	Amount Released (R)/ utilized (U)/ Released or authorized for utilization (A)	Status (Physically complete / implementation stage
Swadesh Darshan (SD)	1	Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam – Kotipally	Coastal Circuit	2014-15	67.83	67.83 (U)	Physically complete
	2.	Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - UbblamaduguWater Falls – Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham – 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)	implementation stage
	5.	Borra Cave Experience at Araku	Araku-Lambasingi	2023-24	29.88	2.99 (A)	implementation stage
CBDD	6.	Enriching Buddhist Heritage and Cultural Experiences at NagarjunaSagar (under Culture & Heritage category)	NagarjunaSagar	2024-25	25.00	2.50 (A)	implementation stage
	7.	Development of Abhobilam as a Spiritual Odyssey (under Spiritual Tourism category)	Ahobilam Temple	2024-25	24.99	2.50 (A)	implementation stage
SASCI	8.	Enriching the Fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota	Gandikota	2024-25	77.91	113.75 (A)	implementation stage
	9.	Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok Bridge & Pushkar Ghat) in Raja Mahendravaram	Raja Mahendravaram	2024-25	94.44		implementation stage
PRASHAD	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 VariDevasthanam at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple	Vishakhapatnam	2022-23	54.04	27.37 (U)	implementation stage
	13.	Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town	Annavaram	2024-25	25.33	6.74 (R) 2.04 (U)	implementation stage

 

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