BW_SMART_CITIES_September_October_2016

T

HE diversity of India cul-

ture are reflected the way

our ancient cities are

built. Each city has its

own unique, socio-religious charac-

ter, illustrious historical past and

vivid cultural identity that is de-

picted in the architectural design

and landscape of these cities.

For the urban planners, it is a

huge challenge to develop these cit-

ies into a modern urban centre,

equipped with all the modern

amenities and at the same time pre-

serve their unique identity and cul-

tural and architectural heritage.

The multiple institutions and un-

clear regulatory framework for fi-

nancing and managing urban herit-

age as well as weak capacity of

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have

created multiple challenges for

managing these heritage cities. As a

result our heritage areas are ne-

glected, overcrowded with

inadequate basic services and infra-

structure, such as water supply, san-

itation, roads, etc. In many cities

even basic amenities like toilets,

sign posts, street lights are missing.

It was with this objective, the gov-

ernment launched the launched the

Heritage City Development and

Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY),

with a focus on holistic develop-

ment of heritage cities. The scheme

aims to preserve and revitalise soul

of the heritage city to reflect the

city’s unique character by encour-

aging aesthetically appealing, ac-

cessible, informative and secured

environment.

As a pilot, this flagship scheme of

the government focuses on revital-

ising twelve heritage cities: Am-

rawati (Andhra Pradesh), Gaya (Bi-

har), Dwaraka (Gujarat), Badami

(Karnataka), Puri (Odisha), Amrit-

sar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan),

Kanchipuram and Velankanni (Ta-

mil Nadu), Warrangal (Telangana),

and Mathura and Varanasi (Uttar

Pradesh).

It is a central sector scheme,

Transforming

Heritage Cities

HRIDAY Scheme aims to redevelop infrastructure of our ancient

cities while restoring their basic cultural and religious identity.

A BW SMARTCITIES report on the various initiative taken by the

central government to develop 12 cities under this scheme

H

eritage

C

ities