BW_SMART_CITIES_September_October_2016

parking, citizen services, informa-

tion kiosks etc.

Apart from the makeover of the

city infrastructure, the project it

will seek to improve last-mile con-

nectivity heritage sites by docu-

mentation, conservation of areas,

providing more facilities for

women, senior citizens and differ-

ently abled citizens to make it more

tourist friendly.

The concept

The HRIDAY scheme will broadly

focus on four theme areas that in-

clude physical infrastructure, Insti-

tutional Infrastructure, Economic

Infrastructure and Social Infra-

structure for reviving and revitaliz-

ing the soul of Heritage City.

All the Identified cities and towns

had to prepare Heritage Manage-

ment Plan for the respective city

and town and develop and execute

Detailed Project Reports (DPRs)

for identified projects after consul-

tation with all stakeholders for

availing assistance under the

scheme. The action plan has to be

prepared in consultation with the

citizen, NGO and experts.

The action plan prepared by the

various cities then were approved

by the HRIDAY National Empow-

ered Committee chaired by the Ur-

ban Development Secretary. After

that once the fund is released, these

projects were implemented

through either empanelled agen-

cies, state, Public Sector Undertak-

ings or Special purpose vehicles et

al. National Institute of Urban Af-

fairs has been designated as Na-

tional Project Management Unit

for the scheme.

The action plans broadly seek to

conserve and develop core heritage

assets of the cities besides improv-

ing sanitation through solid waste

management, easy access through

sign, better mobility, interpretation

centres, landscaping, provision of

green spaces among others.

Cities have been divided into

zones for taking up various infra-

structure development projects for

enhancing the appeal of mission

cities which are centres of rich cul-

tural heritage.

Progress Under HRIDAY

Each heritage cities have its own

unique challenges and problems.

For example, congestion and sani-

tation is a major challenge in the

city of Varanasi, while, encroach-

ment is a big problem at Mathura.

In Amravati, there is no public toi-

let for the tourists and public trans-

portation is in shambles. Most of

the cities lack a proper solid waste

management system.

Under the scheme, the idea is to

revitalise the urban infrastructure

around the heritage assets so as to

increase pride in Indian heritage.

Other objectives include increased

tourist flow and tourist spend and

improving quality of life of the lo-

cals through sustainable heritage

assets.

For Varanasi, the constituency of

Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Rs..89.31 crore is approved under

the HRIDAY Scheme. The project

were divided into 4 zones and total

30 roads were to be developed in all

these four zones of the city. Apart

from that there are projects Includ-

ing development of pedestrian

pathways from Maidagin to Gon-

dolia Chowk to Dasashwamedh

Ghat, on the banks of River Ganga,

Improvement of the facade of the

city, constructing a multi-level

parking to decongest the city and a

solid waste management system at

a cost of Rs. 20 crore.

In the religious city of Mathura,

The city has planned necessary in-

frastructure development will be

taken up in six zones at a cost of Rs.

41.37 crore. The areas considered

for development is Krishnajanma-

bhoomi area which is the birthplace

of Lord Krishna, Chatta Bazar,

Vishram Ghat, Shiv Tal Kund and

Masani, Bharatpur, Bhuteswar

12

Cities will be developed

as Heritage Cities by

Government under the

HRIDAY Scheme

H

eritage

C

ities