TTT NEWS NETWORK
NEW DELHI, 18 MARCH 2025:
Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ extends financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations for development of Buddhist Tourism. The ‘Buddhist Circuit’ has been identified as one of the thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture undertakes conservation and preservation of protected monuments as well as take action for providing public amenities such as toilets, drinking water, parking, pathways, signage, benches, ramps, wheel chairs etc. at various monuments including protected Buddhist Sites, under the Annual Conservation program. Providing public amenities and improving them is a regular activity.
The 1st Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS), was organized by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi, a grantee body of this Ministry. The said summit was based on Asian spirit tradition and cultural & religious cooperation among Asian Nations. The 1st Asian Buddhist Summit witnessed presence of more than 650 delegates including 130 foreign delegates from 26 Asian countries, diplomats from 12 countries and 40 Monks each from Mahayana and Theravada traditions. It has been decided to hold Asian Buddhist Summit in alternate years.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Monday.
Details of projects sanctioned under the Buddhist thematic circuit:
| S. No. | State/UT | Circuit | Sanction Year | Name of the Project | Amount Sanctioned (₹ Cr.) | Amount Released/ Authorized (₹ Cr.)* |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit | 2017-18 | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda -Amravati- Anupu | 35.24 | 30.02 |
| 2 | Bihar | Buddhist Circuit | 2016-17 | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya | 95.18 | 95.18 |
| 3 | Gujarat | Buddhist Circuit | 2017-18 | Development of Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana | 26.68 | 22.28 |
| 4 | Madhya Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit | 2016-17 | Development of Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar | 74.02 | 72.75 |
| 5 | Uttar Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit | 2016-17 | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilwastu | 87.89 | 72.56 |
* Includes amount of authorization to CNA through TSA Model I for Central Sector Scheme.
Under the PRASHAD Scheme, ‘Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints at Yuksom, Sikkim’ project was sanctioned for an amount of Rs.33.32 Crore in the year 2020-21.
Under the Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, the operational guidelines for Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale were issued by the Ministry of Tourism. In line with the guidelines, on 26.11.2024 Government of India has approved a Project ‘Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti’ in Uttar Pradesh for a cost of Rs. 80.24 Crore.
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