(a) whether Buddha Circuit is being built by including some districts of Bihar;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with districts included thereunder and the progress made so far in this regard; and
(c) the expenditure likely to be incurred for the purpsose?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)
(a) to (c): Buddhist Circuit has been identified as one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme- Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits. All places associated with the Buddhist heritage in the country including sites in Bihar are covered under the Buddhist Circuit. The details of projects sanctioned under Buddhist circuit theme are as under:
<pre> (Amt. in Rs. crore)
Sl. No. Name of State Year of Sanction Project Name Amt. Sanctioned
1. Madhya Pradesh 2016-17 Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. 74.94
2. Uttar Pradesh 2016-17 Development of Buddhist Circuit – Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh. 99.97
3. Bihar 2016-17 Construction of Cultural Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar. 98.73
4. Gujarat 2017-18 Development of Buddhist circuit: Junagadh- Gir- Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan scheme. 35.99
5. Andhra Pradesh 2017-18 Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam-Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh under the theme of Buddhist Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme. 52.34
Total 361.97
</pre>
All the above projects are at different stages of implementation.
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