AP to set up Monastery Boulevard to boost tourism

With plans to make its capital city Amaravati, coming up in Vijayawada region, an international tourist destination, Andhra Pradesh government is mulling to set up a 'Monastery Boulevard' where Buddhist monasteries can be built, like in Bihar's Bodh Gaya.

"The state government is mulling to set up up a 'Monastery Boulevard' in the capital region where Buddhists from countries across the world can build their monasteries similar to Bodh Gaya in Bihar," a state government release said.

The issue was discussed at a meeting held on tourism by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with senior officials. Naidu was informed that 13 heritage tourism spots have been identified for being developed as tourist destinations. As a part of it, the Kakinada-Hope Island-Coringa Sanctuary-Konaseema would be developed as tourist circuit.

The focus of the circuit will be Godavari backwaters, house boats, mangrove forest, beaches and local cuisine, arts and culture in the East and West Godavari districts. As part of this circuit, the 2,000 hectare mangrove forest of Coringa will be developed into an eco-sanctuary zone. The mangrove forest, the only one on the East Coast, is the second largest in India after the Sunderbans, the release said.

This circuit will envisage a passenger terminal with jetty, water sports, marine or water park, maritime museum, sea-plane rides, home-stay facility and convention centre. "We can have 5-6 passenger terminals with jetty across the state. And, e-rickshaws can be introduced to ferry passengers around the tourism spots," the Chief Minister said.

Noting that most of these projects could be given on PPP basis, he said a cruise ride from Rajahmundry to Papikondalu (a picturesque location comprising hills along Godavari river) could be introduced.

To give a major boost to tourism in Godavari districts, the government is working on the "Akhanda Godavari" project. "From Godavari's scenic beauty to food and locally-made products like Ratnam Pens, everything has to be branded and promoted," Naidu said, suggesting that Rajahmundry could become the hub of activity of both the districts.

Regarding the coastal tourism circuit at Nellore, the government has identified 10 tourism projects such as Pulicat Lake, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Udayagiri Fort and few beaches for developing them as tourist destinations. During the meeting, the chief minister also suggested officials to work on a plan to set up resorts and entertainment areas not vulnerable to natural disasters.

"Tourists' safety is of utmost priority to us. For this, we need to install every cab with a GPS tracker. We should have information about every tourist. To ferry passengers in cabs, we can talk to cab companies and make it mandatory to install GPS trackers," the CM said. Emphasising on creating a tourism circuit, which would include all forts in the state, he asked the department to chalk out a plan and a package.

He also directed officials to instruct all colleges teaching Home Science to conduct a research on food and how our cuisine can be mixed with other cuisines from across the world. "This will not only generate interest among tourists about the local cuisine, but also give them a new look at their own cuisines," Naidu said.