HRIDAY Yojana: A Blueprint for Revitalizing India’s Heritage Cities

The Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) is a central sector scheme by the Government of India, designed to preserve and revitalize the unique character of India’s heritage cities. The scheme focuses on an integrated and inclusive approach that combines urban planning, economic growth, and heritage conservation, with a strong emphasis on livelihoods, skills, cleanliness, security, accessibility, and service delivery.

Understanding the Need for HRIDAY

Past conservation efforts have often lacked the necessary integration with broader urban development concerns and the aspirations of local communities. Heritage areas often suffer from neglect, overcrowding, inadequate basic services, and a lack of clear regulatory frameworks. HRIDAY addresses these challenges by adopting a holistic view of heritage development, recognizing that these cities are much more than just their monuments.

Scheme Objectives

The key objectives of HRIDAY are:

• To preserve the unique character of heritage cities.

• To facilitate heritage-linked urban development involving public and private sectors.

• To integrate heritage-sensitive infrastructure development.

• To enhance service delivery in historic core areas.

• To revitalize heritage and provide connections to unique city characteristics for tourists.

• To document heritage assets (natural, cultural, living, and built) for effective planning and growth.

• To enhance basic service delivery, with a focus on sanitation and modern technologies.

• To promote local capacity for inclusive heritage-based industries.

• To create effective linkages between tourism and cultural facilities and promote natural and built heritage conservation.

• To implement adaptive rehabilitation and maintenance for historic buildings using appropriate technologies.

• To establish Public-Private Partnerships for urban rehabilitation.

• To enhance livelihoods through tangible economic activities, skill development, and accessible spaces.

• To make cities more informative and secure through modern ICT tools.

• To improve physical access (roads) and intellectual access (digital heritage, GIS mapping).

Scheme Strategy

HRIDAY is a centrally funded scheme that mandates cities to prepare a Heritage Management Plan. It aims to revitalize selected heritage cities using an integrated approach, with focus on the following:

• Preparation of Heritage Management Plans and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

• Implementation through Public Works Organizations (PWOs), Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs), State Para-statals, or NGOs.

• Focus on overall city development, rather than just monument preservation.

• Prioritizing infrastructure projects linked to the city’s trunk infrastructure.

• Funding based on project needs rather than a strict, conditional approach.

The scheme has a duration of four years starting December 2014.

Coverage and Scope

The scheme focuses on the development of twelve identified heritage cities across India:

• Ajmer

• Amravati

• Amritsar

• Badami

• Dwarka

• Gaya

• Kanchipuram

• Mathura

• Puri

• Varanasi

• Velankanni

• Warangal

Additional cities may be considered in future consultations.

Indicative Components

HRIDAY’s activities are broadly categorized into:

1. Heritage Documentation and Mapping: Creating a comprehensive heritage inventory and developing GIS-based maps.

2. Heritage Revitalization Linked to Service Provision: Revitalization of historic sites and improved basic services, like sanitation and water supply.

3. City Information, Knowledge Management and Skill Development: Building local capacity, developing websites, installing signage, and training local artisans and tour guides.

Institutional Arrangements

The scheme is managed through a multi-layered structure:

• National Empowered Committee (HNEC): The highest authority providing overall guidance and approvals, headed by Secretary, MoUD and Chief Secretary of the respective state.

• National Project Management Unit (NPMU): NIUA acts as a secretariat for the Mission Directorate.

• City Mission Directorate: Implements projects at the city level.

• City Level Advisory and Monitoring Committees (CLAMC) to monitor and guide the city level implementation.

Key Responsibilities and Processes

The scheme emphasizes the following activities:

• Preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and Heritage Management Plans (HMPs).

• Adherence to the guidelines of the Ministry.

• Inclusion of a framework to support sustainability.

• Seeking technical and financial consent of National Mission Directorate,

• Engaging stakeholders and citizens through the project’s lifecycle

• Implementation by credible agencies as per government financial rules

Funding and Financial Management

HRIDAY is a centrally funded scheme, with allocations made for various components such as project implementation, project management units, capacity development, preparation of DPRs, and other related expenses. The funds are disbursed in installments as per project progress, and compliance with financial guidelines is mandatory.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Ministry of Urban Development oversees the scheme’s progress with the assistance of NPMU. A Third-Party Monitoring Mechanism has been established to track project progress.

Conclusion

The HRIDAY Yojana represents a significant step towards a more holistic and sustainable approach to heritage conservation in India. By integrating urban planning, community participation, and economic development, HRIDAY provides a framework for revitalizing India’s heritage cities, ensuring that they remain vibrant hubs of culture, tourism, and economic activity. This scheme offers a unique model for integrating tradition with modernity, thereby preserving India’s rich heritage for future generations.