Week 1-7 february:
• Union urban development ministry on Friday approved projects worth Rs 12 crore for improving tourist infrastructure in heritage places of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and Warangal in Telangana.
• An inter-ministerial Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) National Empowered Committee approved development of a heritage park in Amaravati besides developmental works at 1,000 Pillar Temple and Kazipet Durgah and rejuvenation of pond at Padmakshi Temple in Warangal city.
• National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) was launched on 21 January 2015 with the aim of bringing together urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation in an inclusive manner to preserve the heritage character of each Heritage City.
• The Scheme shall support development of core heritage infrastructure projects including revitalization of linked urban infrastructure for heritage assets such as monuments, Ghats, temples etc. along with reviving certain intangible assets. These initiatives shall include development of sanitation facilities, roads, public transportation & parking, citizen services, information kiosks etc.
• With a duration of 27 months (completing in March 2017) and a total outlay of ₹500 crore (US$74 million), the Scheme is set to be implemented in 12 identified Cities namely, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal.