UD Ministry approves projects worth Rs 114 crore under HRIDAY

Ministry of Urban Development has approved projects worth Rs 114 crore under Heritage Infrastructure Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for improving infrastructure facilities around core heritage sites in five cities of Varanasi, Amritsar, Dwaraka, Puri and Warangal.

Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu has directed the officials of the Ministry and concerned state governments to ensure implementation of approved projects by March next year. An inter-ministerial HRIDAY National Empowered Committee chaired by Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (UD) has already cleared Detailed Project Reports of these five cities.

An investment of Rs 13.25 crore has been approved for Varanasi for Developing a Heritage Walk around Kabir Chaura and Piplani Katra at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore and developing required infrastructure at 86 historical sites scattered across the city. Access roads and gallis leading to 86 heritage sites in the city would be improved at a cost of Rs 10.75 crore.

For Amritsar, nine heritage infrastructure related projects have been approved for implementation with a total investment of Rs 57 crore. In Puri, five projects with an investment of about Rs 17.00 crore would be undertaken for the revitalisation of different heritage zones.

The Fort of Warangal in Telangana State would be revived and developed with necessary interventions with Rs 15.30 crore under HRIDAY.

In Dwaraka, Gujarat, Dwarakadhish Temple Square would be developed at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore by providing a pedestrian pathway, surface improvement of roads, adding green elements, street furniture, lighting, signages, dustbins, space for vendors etc. The main Processional Street (Darshan Path) would be improved with Rs 7.25 crore by providing parking spaces, pedestrian pathway, public amenities block, repairing of Iskcon gate, lighting and signages etc.

HRIDAY is a Central Scheme for which Central Assistance of Rs 500 crore has been provisioned till March 2017. So far plans costing over Rs 350 crore have been sanctioned for implementation, with the remaining to be cleared soon.

Source : urbannewsdigest