Transforming Traditional Cities to Smart Cities: An Overview of Hriday Scheme, India

Abstract

Transformation of the traditional cities into smart cities is an effort towards emphasizing the significance of traditional cities. It also attempts to magnify city functions to promote economic growth which helps in enhancing the living quality. However, gradual modifications and advancement in people’s living style leads to deterioration of built heritage. In 2015, the government of India introduced the HRIDAY Scheme under smart city mission with the dream to rejuvenate the character of the traditional cities. Conversely, through findings, it has been revealed there is a considerable difference among the government’s initiatives and the local community’s aspirations. This paper discusses the approaches of HRIDAY scheme which were implemented in 12 selected traditional cities and the resultant challenges are elaborated through qualitative and quantitative analysis. The present research paper identifies five key indicators that require deliberation while planning the revitalization process, based on which a theoretical framework can be developed.

Varanasi—The Making of a Smart Heritage City

“…As corroborated by Mohan (2017), the establishment of the international convention centre, Rudraksha (Figure 3), was a concrete manifestation of this agreement. However, the message that has proved to be the most contentious rests on the fact that the implementation of smart city projects under the ‘six key pillars’ has been fragmented with an inconclusive approach to development (Aijaz, 2021; Kaur & Bhandari, 2022) and is likely to ignore the future aspirations of its residents. Talking about the peculiar context of Varanasi as both a smart city and a heritage relic, Shinde and Singh (2023) state that ‘recent field studies and participatory observations find weak institutional (governmental, community-based and NGOs) coordination, lacking capacity and power to enforce regulation and policies, often also linked to various degrees of corruption; altogether they serve as major obstacles to heritage preservation.’…”

Still on UNESCO’s “Tentative List of World Heritage”? Heritage, Tourism, and Stunted Growth in Sarnath (Varanasi), India

“…Singh has critiqued the accomplishments of a smart city: "Recent field studies and participatory observations find weak institutional (governmental, communitybased and NGOs) coordination, lacking capacity and power to enforce regulation and policies, often also linked to various degrees of corruption; altogether they serve as major obstacles to heritage preservation" [27]. Thus, the implementation of projects under the six pillars have been fragmented and are no different from what has been found in the implementation of the Smart City Mission in other Indian cities (for further insights on this, see [28,29]). What is important to note is that these proclamations are all about Kashi/Banaras/Varanasi (these are names of the same place) and have very little for Sarnath; thus, the conservation of heritage in this important city is dominated by the Hindu heritage of Varanasi and its dominant image as Kashi (the name of the sacred city in Hindu scriptures).…”

An Analysis of Framing Strategies for Redevelopment in Historic Cities: An Assessment

“…Historic cities embody the identities that have existed throughout history and preserve the cultural layering and imprint of human intervention. Thus, the redevelopment of these cities should aim not only to conserve physical structures but also to sustain social patterns and cultural traditions, adapting them to changing conditions Kaur & Bhandari (2022). An amalgamation of the experience and the spaces shaped by that experience is what contributes to the uniqueness of historic cities.…”