Union Budget 2026–27 To Develop 15 Archaeological Sites, Expand Buddhist Circuits

New Delhi, Feb 1 (KNN) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget 2026–27, announced a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism, heritage development, and regional connectivity, while highlighting the sector’s potential to generate employment, earn foreign exchange, and expand local economies.

As part of efforts to boost heritage tourism, 15 archaeological sites will be developed into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations.

In addition, Buddhist circuits in the North Eastern Region will be expanded to promote spiritual tourism and improve regional connectivity.

Under the Purvodaya initiative, the government proposed the development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur.

The programme also includes the creation of five tourism destinations across the five Purvodaya states and the deployment of 4,000 electric buses to strengthen sustainable transport infrastructure.

Highlighting the cultural significance of the North Eastern Region, the Finance Minister noted that the region represents a civilizational confluence of Theravada and Mahayana–Vajrayana Buddhist traditions.

A dedicated scheme for the development of Buddhist circuits will be launched in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.

The scheme will focus on the preservation of temples and monasteries, establishment of pilgrimage interpretation centres, improvement of connectivity, and enhancement of pilgrim amenities.

The government stated that these measures are expected to support tourism-led growth, strengthen cultural preservation, and contribute to long-term socio-economic development in the eastern and north-eastern regions.

(KNN Bureau)