Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage to host meet on heritage economics

BENGALURU: With activists and experts having submitted suggestions regarding private heritage structures in the city’s Revised Master Plan (RMP) 2031, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) is pushing for a heritage legislation through an awareness campaign.

Intach is organising a conference on April 7 titled ‘Economics of Urban Heritage: Conservation, Hurdles and Opportunities’, which will bring together government officials, conservationists, investors, homeowners and urban planners to discuss the tourism potential of built heritage.

“In the light of the RMP 2031, where regulations prevent owners from demolishing or drastically modifying their houses, deriving economic benefits through government incentives, tax breaks or commercial ventures may be useful,” said Meera Iyer, convenor, Intach Bengaluru chapter.


According to Iyer, Bengaluru’s structural heritage means streets, markets and neighbourhoods, rather than a palace or monuments. So it would help to start small interventions like creating public neighbourhood spaces around historical structures, retaining local flavours and attracting tourists with that sense of place.

Given that various proposals to tap the tourism potential of heritage are in cold storage, conversations should ideally start with strong legislation. This, in turn, would also encourage adaptive re-use, believed Rajiv Patel, an Ahmedabad-based real estate developer who has cofounded the City Heritage Foundation to monetise heritage.