Warangal in Telangana and Amravati in Andhra Pradesh are among the 12 heritage cities chosen for revitalisation by the Government of India. The Rs. 500 crore Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) aims at bringing together urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation. The scheme will be launched in January, said Union Minister for Urban Development, M. Venkaiah Naidu.
He told presspersons here on Sunday that both Warangal and Amravati were ancient and historic cities. The choice of Amravati was also important as it would be closer to the new capital. The other cities are Varanasi, Ajmer, Amritsar, Gaya, Mathura, Dwarka, Puri, Kanchipuram and Velankani. A workshop was held recently to seek the views of municipal commissioners and district collectors of these cities.
Mr. Naidu said the government proposed to construct 3,300 houses for the poor at a cost of Rs. 101 crore in Khammam district. The slums of Mallemadugu and Ramanagarikunta would be developed. The Centre will provide Rs. 74.33 crore and the rest of the expense will be borne by the State government. In Ramagundam, it was proposed to build 286 houses at a cost of Rs. 12.75 crore and in Warangal, 1,176 houses at a cost of Rs. 70 crore.
