APTDC makes Rs 28cr rural plans

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is planning to embark on new projects that will focus on developing tourism in the state's rural areas, at an investment of around Rs 28 crore.

Around 7.4 crore domestic tourists and 4,79,398 international tourists visited the state in 2003-04. Most of the tourists, however, visit the state only for pilgrimages and the leisure travellers usually restrict their tour to cities like Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. In addition, a majority of foreign visitors to the state are those who come only for corporate purposes to Hyderabad.

The corporation, therefore, plans to spread the tourist traffic to other areas that have the tourism potential but have not been tapped as yet. Some of the plans include the development of Kurnool-Cuddapah circuit, setting up a rural tourism complex at Puttaparthi and promoting the Buddhist circuit in lower Krishna valley.

Speaking to Business Standard, T V N Rao, managing director of APTDC, said, "We are planning to develop the Kurnool-Cuddapah circuit at an investment of Rs 8 crore. Towns like Mylavaram, Gandikota, Alampur and others on the circuit will be provided with public amenities, temple illumination and signages. We will also take up conservation of heritage sites and monuments in those areas."

The project has not yet received sanction from the government and the corporation expects the project to be commissioned in 2006.

"This apart, we are also planning to develop a rural tourism complex at Puttaparthi to provide tourists with facilities like accommodation, food courts, handicraft centre, cottages, tourist information centre and other public amenities," Rao said.

The project involves a cost of Rs 1.2 crore and will be completed by June 2005. The state attracts the maximum tourists for pilgrimages at Puttaparthi and Tirupati. The proposed move of the state to add more facilities at Puttaparthi will help the state to bank on this factor besides showcasing the art and culture of the Rayalaseema region.

To increase the international tourist traffic, the corporation is also developing the lower Krishna valley as a Buddhist Circuit at a cost of Rs 12 crore.

"The work on this project has already started and we plan to set up a 64-ft stupa, theme park, museum, food courts, interpretation centres and cottages also. Amaravati and Nagarjuna Sagar have also been selected for future development in the Buddhist circuit," Rao said.

The work will be on par with international standards and will be ready by the end of 2006,he added.

The corporation is also spending Rs 5 crore on developing budget hotels in Bhadrachalam. "About 80 per cent of the work is over and by March 2005, the project will be completed," Rao said. A ropeway in Srisailam will also be commissioned next month and will involve a cost of Rs 2 crore, he added.