File photo of Ajmer Dargah
Comprehensive action plans under Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for eight missions cities have been approved at a total cost of Rs 431 crore.
The action plans broadly seek to conserve and develop core heritage assets of the cities besides improving sanitation through solid waste management, easy access through signages and better mobility, interpretation centres, landscaping, provision of green spaces among others.
HRIDAY National Empowered Committee chaired by Urban Development Secretary Madhusudhana Prasad on Tuesday 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.
While some projects for a few of these cities were approved and funds released earlier, comprehensive action plans were cleared today, a senior Urban Development Ministry official said.
Cities have been divided into zones for taking up various 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 crore by undertaking projects in 4 zones of the city. These include development of pedestrian pathways from Maidagin to Gondolia Chowk to Dasashwamedh Ghat, facade improvement, multi-level parking and solid waste management at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
Thirty roads will be developed in different heritage zones at a cost of Rs 22 crore. Proposed investments will include Rs 89.31 crore allocated for Varanasi under HRIDAY besides under other schemes.
In Mathura, necessary infrastructure development will be taken up in six zones at a cost of Rs 41.37 crore for the benefit of Krishnajanmabhoomi area, Chatta Bazar, Vishram Ghat, Shiv Tal Kund and Masani, Bharatpur, Bhuteswar chowks.
The 2.6 km long Vrindavan Parikrama will be developed at a cost of Rs 9.26 crore.
For Ajmer and Pushkar, Rs 60.98 crore will be spent in five zones on various projects, including development works at Brahma Temple at a cost of Rs 8.72 crore and development of cultural park at Subhash Udyan in Ajmer at a cost of Rs 13.60 crore.