Rs 69.31 cr for development under HRIDAY plan

Amritsar, 11 October 2015: Heritage expert Gurmit Rai, associated with the preservation of the holy city's Gobindgarh fort, said the city has been divided in five heritage zones to implement the Union Government's Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY).

The Union Government sanctioned Rs 69.31 crore for the development of Amritsar under HRIDAY in the beginning of this year. The holy city is the second city that has been sanctioned the maximum finance after Varanasi that has been sanctioned Rs 89.31 crore under the scheme.

Besides, Amritsar is one of the 12 heritage cities that have been identified by the Union Urban Development Ministry for development. Addressing a programme organised by Amritsar Vikas Manch, an NGO, she said the walled city has been placed in the first zone, Ram Bagh, housing summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, has been placed in the second category, Gobindgarh fort and Durgiana temple in the third, external circular road along the wall around the old city and Chheharta Sahib, Challih khoo and Upper Bari Doab canal in the fifth zone.

All these zones will be developed. Among others, SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur, Kulwant Singh Ankhi, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, Manmohan Singh addressed the participants. — With thanks from TNS