HYDERABAD: As part of its plans to develop Buddhist tourist places in the state to world class standards, the Telangana government has decided to set up an International Buddha Museum at Buddhavanam in Nagarjunasagar.
Highly-placed sources said that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed officials to prepare proposals in this regard. They said that the government also decided to develop the historical Phanigiri, Nelakondapalli, Nagarjunasagar Buddhist sites and the Buddha statue in the middle of Hussainsagar as a single tourism circuit.
Meanwhile, the government has appointed retired IPS officer C Anjaneya Reddy as a mentor for the development of the Buddhavanam project, in an honorary capacity. Principal Secretary (Tourism) A Vani Prasad issued orders to this effect on August 19. These orders were made public on Saturday.
Officials told TNIE: “The state government has recently sent a DPR to the Union government for the development of Buddhavanam under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. It proposed to set up a Buddhist digital museum and exhibition and digital archives at Buddhavanam with an estimate of Rs 25 crore. Along with these, an international Buddha Museum will also be incorporated in this plan.”
To attract domestic and international tourists, Buddhavanam will be developed as a tourism and spiritual destination centre, the officials added. The government has also decided to resume boat trips for tourists visiting Nagarjunasagar. Affordable tourism packages are designed for this.
The sources said that the government has decided to develop the Buddha statue in Hussainsagar as a tourism destination circle. The chief minister has instructed the officials to design a circular skywalk to Tank Bund, Telangana Amara Jyoti, Necklace Road and Sanjeevayya Park. He reportedly directed them to make this area a world-class tourism hub. International standard model designs should be made with experienced consultants and experts, the chief minister is believed to have said
Meanwhile, sources said that the chief minister has directed officials of R&B department to prepare proposals for a four-lane road from Hyderabad to Nagarjunasagar.
This is in line with the chief minister’s plans to widen the roads around Golconda Fort by removing encroachments while ensuring that the residents and shopkeepers are not rendered homeless. Officials have been asked to take steps to rehabilitate the residents and shopkeepers elsewhere before taking up widening works.
Officials told to prepare proposals
The government has decided to develop the historical Phanigiri, Nelakondapalli, Nagarjunasagar Buddhist sites and the Buddha statue in the middle of Hussainsagar as a single tourism circuit. Sources said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed officials to prepare proposals in this regard.