VISAKHAPATNAM: HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao laid the foundation stone for tourism development projects, worth Rs 13 crore, at Thotlakonda and Bavikonda, part of the State’s Buddhist Circuit, in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
On the occasion, Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that for the development of the Buddhist Circuit in the State, a fund of Rs 52.33 crore had been sanctioned. Buddhist sites, such as Thotlakonda, Bavinkonda, Bojjannakonda in Visakhapatnam and Saalihundam in Srikakulam will be developed, as part of the State’s Buddhist Circuit development project.
The minister said that about Rs 13.41 crore was especially allotted for development of Thotlakonda and Bavikonda, for which the foundation stone for works was laid. For Bojjannakonda alone, Rs 7.32 crore has been allotted, he said.
What’s new
According to the minister, the development works included Thotlakonda tourism amenities centre, parking facility, lights, Buddhist arches, Buddhist cultural centre, pitting up CCTV cameras, making WiFi facility etc. available in the tourist spots. Ganta Srinivasa Rao also said that the State government had been conducting various tourism-related events in Visakhapatnam and simultaneously developing various tourism-related projects.
“Already the Beach Road has been decked up with a number of tourism projects, such as the TU-142 Aircraft Museum. We have conducted the kite festival, balloon festival, sounds of sand, Visakha utsav and yachting in the district.
A tourism calendar will be prepared soon and events will be conducted according to it,” said Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
