India’s rich cultural heritage represents centuries of history, art, and architecture spread across numerous ancient cities. However, preserving these invaluable assets while addressing modern urban development challenges has long been a complex task. The Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) emerged as a groundbreaking initiative that fundamentally changed how India approaches heritage city development by integrating urban planning, economic growth, and heritage conservation into a single comprehensive framework.
Table of Contents
- Understanding HRIDAY: vision and significance
- Funding structure and scheme strategy
- Implementation framework and institutional structure
- National level structure
- City level structure
- Twelve major scheme objectives
- Coverage: the twelve heritage cities
- Four thematic focus areas
- Key achievements and project outcomes
- Scheme conclusion and legacy
Understanding HRIDAY: vision and significance
The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) was launched on January 21, 2015, by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. This central sector scheme marked a significant shift in India’s urban development philosophy by recognizing that heritage conservation cannot happen in isolation from broader urban development needs.
Prior to HRIDAY, conservation efforts in Indian heritage cities were typically disconnected from local community needs, urban planning processes, and economic development considerations. Heritage areas often suffered from neglect, overcrowding, inadequate basic services, and infrastructure deficiencies including water supply, sanitation, and proper road access. The scheme was designed to address these challenges holistically.
The fundamental objective of HRIDAY is to preserve and revitalize the soul of heritage cities while reflecting each city’s unique character. This involves creating aesthetically appealing, accessible, informative, and secured environments that serve both residents and tourists. The scheme emphasizes strategic development that improves overall quality of life while specifically focusing on sanitation, security, tourism, heritage revitalization, and livelihood enhancement-all while retaining the city’s cultural identity.
Funding structure and scheme strategy
HRIDAY operates as a central sector scheme with 100 percent funding provided by the Government of India. The initial total outlay for the scheme was ₹500 crores (approximately US$63 million), distributed across various implementation components.
The funding allocation follows a structured distribution model. Project implementation receives 85% of the total funds, while establishment and operationalization of National and City Project Management Units receives 3%. Capacity development for heritage cities accounts for 3%, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and Heritage Management Plans takes 4%, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities receive 4%, and administrative and operating expenses comprise the remaining 1%.
The fund release mechanism operates in three installments: 20% upon project approval, 60% upon achieving 20% physical and financial progress, and the final 20% upon reaching 60% progress. This phased approach ensures accountability and steady project advancement.
Implementation framework and institutional structure
The implementation of HRIDAY follows a multi-tiered institutional framework designed for coordinated action at national and city levels.
National level structure
At the apex, the HRIDAY National Empowered Committee (HNEC) provides overall sanction, approval, guidance, and advisory functions. This committee is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and the Chief Secretary of the respective state, with representation from various ministries including Tourism, Culture, Water Resources, and Housing. The HNEC enunciates the vision, chalks out roadmaps, monitors progress, and recommends mid-course corrections as required.
The National Mission Directorate, headed by an Additional/Joint Secretary level officer, handles day-to-day planning and implementation. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) serves as the National Project Management Unit (NPMU), functioning as the secretariat for the Mission Directorate. The NPMU comprises technical experts including urban planning specialists, heritage conservation architects, municipal engineers, financial specialists, and IT/MIS specialists.
City level structure
At the city level, City Level Advisory and Monitoring Committees (CLAMCs) are constituted with representation from elected representatives, officials from line departments, institutes, and civil society organizations. These committees provide platforms for idea exchange, project oversight, and local coordination. Each city also has a City Mission Directorate that functions as an extended arm of the National Mission Directorate, working as the full-fledged project implementation unit at the local level.
Cities participating in HRIDAY must prepare a City HRIDAY Plan (CHP) or Heritage Management Plan (HMP) and develop Detailed Project Reports for identified projects. These plans are prepared by HRIDAY City Anchors assigned to each city, while DPRs are generated by agencies from the Centre’s empanelled list. Project execution is carried out by Public Works Organizations, Special Purpose Vehicles, Central Public Sector Units, State Para-statals, or reputable contractors.
Twelve major scheme objectives
HRIDAY encompasses twelve comprehensive objectives that cover all aspects of heritage city development:
Planning and infrastructure development forms the foundation, involving the planning, development, and implementation of heritage-sensitive infrastructure along with service delivery and infrastructure provisioning in historic city core areas.
Heritage preservation and tourism focuses on preserving and revitalizing heritage so tourists can connect directly with each city’s unique character. This includes developing and documenting heritage asset inventories covering natural, cultural, living, and built heritage as a basis for urban planning, growth, and service delivery.
Basic services enhancement emphasizes implementation and improvement of services with focus on sanitation-including public conveniences, toilets, and water taps-along with street lights using the latest technologies to improve tourist facilities.
Local capacity building aims at enhancing local capacity for inclusive heritage-based industry, creating effective linkages between tourism and cultural facilities, and conserving both natural and built heritage.
Adaptive rehabilitation involves urban heritage adaptive rehabilitation and maintenance, including appropriate technologies for retrofitting historic buildings, and establishing effective public-private partnerships for urban rehabilitation.
Economic development focuses on developing and promoting core tangible economic activities to enhance livelihood avenues among stakeholders, including necessary skill development for local artisans, tour operators, and entrepreneurs.
Accessibility and security involves making cities informative using modern ICT tools, securing them with modern surveillance apparatus like CCTV cameras, and increasing both physical access through roads and universal design, and intellectual access through digital heritage and GIS mapping of historical locations.
Coverage: the twelve heritage cities
HRIDAY was implemented in twelve carefully selected heritage cities representing India’s diverse natural, historic, and cultural resources. These cities are Ajmer (Rajasthan), Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Badami (Karnataka), Dwarka (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Velankanni (Tamil Nadu), and Warangal (Telangana).
The selection of these cities reflects the understanding that heritage city development extends far beyond monument conservation. It encompasses the development of the entire city-its planning, basic services, community quality of life, economy, livelihoods, cleanliness, and security. The scheme guidelines explicitly mention that additional cities may be investigated following consultations to expand the scheme’s reach.
Four thematic focus areas
HRIDAY projects broadly focus on four theme areas for reviving and revitalizing heritage cities:
Physical infrastructure includes heritage documentation and GIS-based mapping, revitalization of heritage areas and ghats, restoration of heritage monuments, provision of basic services like sanitation and water supply, development of heritage walks and religious trails, improvement of roads and public transportation, and pedestrianization of tourist attraction areas.
Institutional infrastructure encompasses local capacity strengthening for heritage management, development of websites and outreach materials, installation of CCTV cameras and Wi-Fi facilities, and creation of direction pillars, signage, and digital information kiosks.
Economic infrastructure focuses on skill development for tour operators, guides, and local artisans, support for marketing and development of local heritage industries including women-managed cottage industries, and heritage-sensitive building codes and urban design regulations.
Social infrastructure involves community engagement programs, cultural events and festivals, and development of museums and interpretation centers.
Key achievements and project outcomes
During its implementation period, HRIDAY achieved significant milestones in heritage city development. According to official government records, 70 projects worth ₹422.61 crores were approved across the 12 heritage cities, with ₹310.43 crores released for implementation.
Notable accomplishments include the upgradation of 59 roads leading to heritage sites in Varanasi, Ajmer, Amritsar, and Amaravati. Public parks and gardens were rejuvenated in cities like Amritsar (Gol Bagh), Ajmer (Subhash Udyan), and Puri (Banki Muhana). Heritage walks connecting important monuments were developed in Pushkar, Ajmer, and Varanasi.
The scheme facilitated remarkable adaptive reuse projects, including the restoration of Rambagh Gate in Amritsar, which now houses a people’s museum called Lok Virsa, and the Town Hall in Varanasi, built in 1870 by the Maharaja of Vizianagram, which was converted into a cultural center. In Varanasi, HRIDAY facilitated the restoration of ghats along the Ganges River, enhancing their cultural significance while improving sanitation and lighting systems. The Annasagar Lakefront Development in Ajmer revived a traditional water body that had deteriorated into a garbage dump.
Scheme conclusion and legacy
The HRIDAY mission period ended on March 31, 2019, and no new projects or cities were taken up after this date. While the scheme had a defined timeline, its impact continues to influence how India approaches heritage-linked urban development. The assets created under HRIDAY have direct interface with the public, and their sustainability remains crucial for maximizing environmental, social, and economic benefits.
The scheme established important precedents for integrating heritage conservation with urban planning processes, local economies, and community development. It demonstrated that heritage development is not merely about conserving monuments but about developing entire cities-their planning, services, quality of life, economy, and the reinvigoration of their soul and explicit manifestation of their unique character.
What do you think? How can future heritage conservation programs build upon HRIDAY’s integrated approach to balance modernization needs with cultural preservation? What role should local communities play in shaping heritage development priorities in their cities?
References
- https://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/GuidelinesHRIDAY.pdf
- https://smartnet.niua.org/hriday
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_City_Development_and_Augmentation_Yojana
- https://smartnet.niua.org/sites/default/files/resources/hriday_Guidelines.pdf
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1795154
- https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/hriday-scheme
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1557336
- https://www.impriindia.com/insights/heritage-city-hriday/
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