New Delhi

Action Plans under Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for eight missions cities have been approved at a total cost of Rs.431 cr. HRIDAY National Empowered Committee chaired by Shri Madhusudhana Prasad, Secretary(Urban Development) today approved the action plans for Varanasi, Mathura, Ajmer, Dwaraka(Gujarat), Badami (karnataka), Warangal(Telangana), Amaravati(Andhra Pradesh) and Vellankini(Tamil Nadu) after detailed presentations by officials of respective cities and state governments.

The action plans approved broadly seek to conserve and develop core heritage assets of respective cities besides improving sanitation through solid waste management, easy access through signages and better mobility, interpretation centres, landscaping, provision of green spaces etc.

While some projects for some of these cities were approved and funds released earlier, comprehensive action plans were cleared today.

Various cities have been divided into different zones for taking up different infrastructure development projects for enhancing the appeal of mission cities which are centres of rich cultural heritage.

Heritage development in Varanasi will be taken up at a cost of Rs.130 cr by undertaking different projects in 4 zones of the city. These include : development of pedestrian pathways from Maidagin to Gondolia Chowk to Dasashwamedh Ghat, façade improvement, multilevel parking and solid waste management at a cost of Rs.20 cr. Thirty roads will be developed in different heritage zones at a cost of Rs.22 cr. Proposed investments will include Rs.89.31 cr allocated for Varanasi under HRIDAY besides under other schemes.

In Mathura, necessary infrastructure development will be taken up in 6 different zones at a cost of Rs.41.37 cr for the benefit of Krishnajanmabhoomi Area, Chatta Bazar, Vishram Ghat, Shiv Tal Kund and Masani, Bharatpur, Bhuteswar chowks. 2.60 km long Vrindavan Parikrama will be developed at a cost of Rs.9.26 cr.

For Ajmer and Pushkar, Rs.60.98 cr will be spent in 5 zones on various projects including development works at Brahma Temple at a cost of Rs.8.72 cr and development of cultural park at Subhash Udyan in Ajmer at a cost of Rs.13.60 cr.

Dwaraka in Gujarat will be made more visitor friendly at a cost of Rs.19.56 cr through landscape development, footpaths and provision of other amenities.

Badami in Karnataka will witness a significant facelift at a cost of Rs.61.86 cr. This includes an investment of Rs.10 cr by the Archeological Survey of India and Bagalkot district administration on resettlement and rehabilitation of 72 families near Agastya Lake and Rs.8.00 cr by the state government on improvement of arterial roads.

The Church town of Vellankini in Tamil Nadu will get a make over with an investment of Rs.42.26 cr including development of a cultural park at a cost of Rs.8.00 cr and relocation of a new bus stand at a cost of Rs.6.00 cr.

Warangal in Telangana will get various infrastructure facilities and amenities at a cost of Rs.72.97 cr including Rs.40.54 cr allocated to the city under HRIDAY. These include : Development of foreshore road, street lights, parking, landscaping etc at a cost of Rs. 14.94 cr, Ropeway at a cost of Rs.15 cr, preservation of moat surrounding the Fort at a cost of Rs.5.37 cr, museum at Fort Warangal at a cost of Rs.3.85 cr etc.

The seat of Buddhism of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh will be improved at a cost of Rs.20.33 cr under HRIDAY. Access to Dharanikota Fort, Amaravati Pond, Mahachaitya Stupa, Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple, Kalachakra Museum, Dhyanabuddha Statue and Zamindar Bungalow will be improved through improved roads and access. An interpretation centre and a walkway of 2.50 kms will also be developed.

The HRIDAY National Empowered Committee urged the Ministry of Tourism to expedite approvals for various projects worth Rs.32 cr under consideration for Amaravati.

The meeting was attended by experts Shri Bimal Patel, Shri K T Ravindran, Shri Kishan Rao and senior officials from the Ministries of Culture, Tourism, Water Resources, NITI Ayog, Archeological Survey of India etc.

PIB