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Alankar Mishra

April 8, 2025

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What is HRIDAY Scheme: Full-form, cities covered and Objectives?

The history of India’s growth is incomplete without the mention of urban development. The need to sustain cities of historical importance is equally critical. To meet the cultural conservation goals along with urban development, the HRIDAY Scheme was initiated. The scheme’s major focus area is the ongoing and active preservation efforts of major Indian cities’ cultural legacies.

We will talk about what HRIDAY stands for, which cities are a part of this scheme, its key features, and other important aspects of this endeavor.

What is the HRIDAY Scheme?

HRIDAY stands for Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana. It was released on January 21, 2015, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) with the intent of conserving and upgrading the heritage cities across India. The initiative seeks to enhance the infrastructure, urban planning, and heritage conservation of important cities.

The HRIDAY scheme acknowledges the fact that the heritage cities of India are of astounding cultural, historical, and economical importance. The scheme covers urban development with heritage conservation to ensure development while preserving the personality of the cities.

Cities Covered Under the HRIDAY Scheme

The HRIDAY Scheme focused initially on twelve cities in India, selected for their historical and cultural importance:

Ajmer (Rajasthan): Well known for Ajmer Sharif Dargah and rich in Mughal history.

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): Ancient historical site, deeply connected with Buddhism.

Amritsar (Punjab): Major religious center in Punjab, housing the famed Golden Temple.

Badami (Karnataka): Known for rock-cut cave temples and Chalukyan architecture.

Dwarka (Gujarat): Famous for its association with Lord Krishna and a significant religious city.

Gaya (Bihar): Bastion for Hindu and Buddhist tourists, vital for pilgrimage.

Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu): A famous spot for temples and silk weaving.

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh): Famous for krishna janmabhoomi, an important pilgrimage site.

Puri (Odisha): Famous for Jagannath temple and Rath yatra.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): Famous as one of the oldest existing cities, having religious and cultural value.

Velankanni (Tamil Nadu): An important Christian place of pilgrimage.

Warangal (Telangana): Known for its temples and architecture during the Kakatiya dynasty.

These cities showcase a blend of India’s religions, history, and cultures.

Objectives of the HRIDAY Scheme

The HRIDAY Scheme aims to develop heritage cities comprehensively, including urban design, economy, and culture. Its primary objectives are:

1. Conservation of Heritage and Archaeology

Restoration of neglected historical monuments like temples, forts, and other important cultural buildings.

Using scientific methods to stop anthropogenic harassment of old buildings.

2. Sustainable Urban Development

Executing urban design that is sensitive and adheres to the city's historical heritage.

Improving living conditions through better sanitation, drainage and solid waste management.

3. Infrastructure Development

Improving access roads to heritage areas by public transport and pedestrian pathways.

Improving illumination, information panels and protection of historical monuments.

4. Development of Tourist Services and the Regional Economy

Building or upgrading tourist services to increase economic activities and employment opportunities in that region.

Encouraging and publicizing local crafts, traditional art, and local culture shows.

5. Civic Engagement and Multicultural Awareness

Consideration of different ethnic groups in heritage protection programs.

Educating the public for social responsibility about culture.

6. Smart Integrated City Management

Use of information technology in cities' management.

Connecting tourist and cultural monuments with smart city development programs.

Implementation and Funding of HRIDAY Scheme

The entire budget for the HRIDAY Scheme was fully funded by the Central Government to the tune of ₹500 crore. The scheme was intended to be undertaken in conjunction with State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, and private sector participants.\ Implementation involved:

Development of City HRIDAY Plans (CHP) for each heritage city.

Implementation of an integrated approach in a sequential manner, beginning with core areas such as infrastructure, conservation, and promotion of tourism.

Liaison between Departments of the Government for ease of delivery of services.

Impact of HRIDAY Scheme

The HRIDAY Scheme’s inception has been greatly beneficial on heritage cities through:

Upgraded urban infrastructure in historic areas, which improved their accessibility for residents and visitors.

Restoration of heritage sites to preserve them for the future.

Improved tourism and local economic development, which created jobs and opened new business opportunities.

Increased public engagement, with local people actively participating in conservation activities.

Challenges Faced by the HRIDAY Scheme

Overly optimistic about its implementation, the HRIDAY Scheme came across a few bumps on the road:

Inadequate Budget: The budget of ₹500 crore was too low to accommodate the extensive restoration that needed to be done across all cities.

Management Problems: Preservation of Heritage involves many departments, which results in delays in managing the project.

Concern for Sustainability: Keeping up the maintenance of heritage sites after actively restoring them is a challenge.

Urbanization and Encroachment: The speed at which cities are being constructed, along with illegal buildings being put up, always puts heritage sites in danger.

Conclusion

The HRIDAY Scheme seeks to achieve the delicate balance of fostering urbanization while simultaneously developing policies to protect India’s cultural antiquities. The scheme has played a crucial role in the rejuvenation of the aged cities through infrastructure advancements, heritage site construction, and the subsequent increase in tourist visitations.

For sustained success, there must be additional government backing as well as more funds and community involvement. Also, more public-private partnerships would help achieve the objectives of HRIDAY and ensure that India's heritage cities are not only maintained but continue to thrive for the future generations.