Latest news with #SwadeshDarshan2.0
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Borra Caves to undergo 28 cr facelift
Visakhapatnam: Large-scale development works are set to begin in July at the 150-million-year-old Borra Caves near Araku Valley in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The 28.5 crore project is being taken up under the Centre's Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. Borra Caves, a major tourist attraction known for its natural limestone formations, has drawn international attention for over three decades. The Central govt sanctioned funds for its development in February last year, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) was later finalized, and the tender process has now been completed. Initially, the project faced delays as no contractors came forward due to a clause requiring them to handle long-term maintenance. With that clause now removed, the project is finally set to take off. Officials said they are focusing on the encroachments around the Borra Caves. Planned work include upgrading electrical lights, repairing stairways, installing an entrance arch and automatic gates, and modernising the existing restaurant. According to officials, the proposed development encompasses three categories: augmenting the sense of arrival, enhancing the cave precinct, and improving tourist facilities along with beautification inside the cave. Apart from this, there will be the organisation of a vehicular parking area, the introduction of electric vehicle shuttle services and charging points, and the provision of public convenience facilities near the cave entrance.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
AP Chambers seeks Centre's support for tourism projects in AP
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (AP Chambers) presented a proposal to Union Minister of Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during his visit to Vijayawada on Thursday. The minister welcomed the ideas and invited a delegation to meet him in New Delhi to discuss them further. AP Chambers president Potluri Bhaskara Rao noted Andhra Pradesh's prime location, extensive coastline, rich cultural heritage, and spiritual tourism sites, positioning the state as a strong tourism hub. The Chambers urged the Union government to fund key tourism projects in the state. Rao proposed a coastal beach corridor between Suryalanka (Bapatla District) and Vodarevu (Chirala, Prakasam District), a 10-km stretch with 40-50 mid-scale resorts owned by local entrepreneurs. Without a proper beach road, development is limited. A new road could attract 20-25 high-end resorts, transforming the area into a Mini Goa-like destination. Rao suggested promoting Visakhapatnam as the 'Gateway to Andhra Pradesh' through government marketing efforts. He recommended an 'Open Sky Policy' for Visakhapatnam International Airport with a hub-and-spoke model to increase tourist arrivals. Visakhapatnam beach should gain 'Beach Destination' status alongside Goa and Kovalam in the Union Ministry of Tourism's 'Incredible India' campaign. The Chambers proposed developing Manginapudi Beach at Machilipatnam as a beachfront tourism destination under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, aligning with the upcoming Machilipatnam Greenfield Port and modern Fishing Harbour to boost connectivity and tourism. Monuments and natural sites like Lepakshi Group of Temples, Gandikota Grand Canyon and Fort, Belum Caves, Guntupalli Group of Monuments, and Salihundam Group of Buddhist Monuments could attract UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The Chambers urged the Union government to pursue these designations. Major pilgrimage sites like Tirupati, Srisailam, Simhachalam, and Amaravati need focused promotion under the PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan schemes. Rao proposed developing the 'Indrakeeladri-Berm Park-Bhavani Island' area in Vijayawada as a Riverfront Mega Tourism Hub, integrating spiritual, wellness, adventure, culinary, ropeway, boating, and water fleet components with the Amaravati Capital Region. The Chambers also suggested a 'Visakhapatnam-Bhimili-Bhogapuram beachfront corridor' as a Mega Beachfront Tourism Corridor with central funding, aligning with ongoing tourism infrastructure upgrades in the north coastal region. Finally, the 'Godavari Riverfront Districts' could become a 'Konaseema Agri and Rural Tourism Corridor' with central financial support, leveraging the ecotourism potential of the Godavari River and its tributaries.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Minister Durgesh asks investors to back Andhra Pradesh's tourism vision
VIJAYAWADA: Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh called on investors to partner with the Andhra Pradesh government in transforming the State into a world-class tourism hub by 2047. Speaking on the second day of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0 in Vijayawada on Friday, Durgesh said tourism development is a top priority for the coalition government led by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. He highlighted that Andhra Pradesh offers an investment-friendly ecosystem and the government is open to ideas and committed to providing support. 'We have granted industrial status to tourism, introduced a new tourism policy for 2024–29, and are paving the way for sustainable, responsible, and tech-enabled tourism,' he said. The minister highlighted the State's 974-km coastline, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage, saying these assets will be showcased globally. He said hundreds of crores have been sanctioned under central schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASAD, and CBDD. Key initiatives include the `94.44 crore Akhanda Godavari Tourism Project and upcoming policies in eco and adventure tourism. He also emphasised branding, marketing, tech enablement, and the creative economy. Calling on investors to 'forget the shadows of the past', Durgesh described tourism as a powerful tool for economic growth, cultural promotion, and employment.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Twenty million international tourists expected in current fiscal year in India: Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday (June 26, 2025) said that 20 million international tourists are expected to visit the country in the current financial year as diversity becomes the core of India's tourism sector. Addressing the gathering after performing bhumi puja for the Godavari riverfront development project named 'Akhanda Godavari', on the banks of river Godavari in Rajamahendravaram on Thursday (June 26, 2025), Mr. Gajendra Singh has said: 'From the snow-laden Himalayas to sun-kissed beaches, from Yoga retreats to Sufi shrines, India offers a complete tourism ecosystem. Over the three years, India has moved up from 54th position to 39 on the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index.' 'At present, the country's tourism landscape is being reshaped with various flagship schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASAD, Community Based Eco-Tourism and the projects being undertaken through these schemes are revitalising economies,' said Mr. Gajendra Singh. 'Tourism in India is no more about monuments and memories. It is about livelihoods and legacy,' asserted Mr. Gajendra Singh.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
Colva beach mess belies Rs 11cr revamp
Colva: Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, Colva beach was to be beautified for Rs 11.7 crore, but a visit to the beach today reveals shattered infrastructure despite the promise of the creation of an 'iconic beach'. The money was sanctioned for Colva beach in July 2018. The project was launched by the tourism minister at the time, Manohar Ajgaonkar, and included comprehensive beautification, roadworks, and landscaping. Other project features were gazebos, toilet and changing blocks, parking for over 450 vehicles, a children's play area, and a network of 15 high-end CCTV cameras and ornamental street lighting. In 2019, seven gazebos made of steel and fibre-reinforced plastic were installed, and officials of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) asserted that these structures were built to endure the coastal weather conditions. However, within a year, the structures began deteriorating. By the monsoon of 2020, most gazebos had collapsed. Today, only two skeletal remains stand. The situation deteriorated in 2022, when the ornamental lighting poles were ripped off by strong winds, plunging the beach into darkness for months. In May 2025, unseasonal rains brought down the remaining poles. GTDC officials have only vague responses to questions on whether any structural audit was ever conducted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The CCTV network is now entirely non-functional. The air-conditioned monitoring booth lies defunct. Despite the project's cost and its high-profile launch, no public record of a financial or technical audit has surfaced. Locals, including panchayat members, have repeatedly raised concerns over the drain of taxpayer money and the lack of upkeep. As the state prepares for Swadesh Darshan 2.0, who will answer for the Rs 11.7 crore already lost, said one panchayat member.
