Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu presents Varanasi development plan to Modi

NEW DELHI: Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu today made a presentation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on developing the temple town of Varanasi as part of a new scheme for the development of heritage cities.

Naidu and UD Secretary Shankar Aggarwal were present for the presentation.

The new UD ministry scheme is aimed at the preservation and revitalisation of India's rich heritage. It also seeks to enhance the quality of urban life in such cities apart from improving their physical, social and economic structures, said sources close to the minister.

The holy towns of Mathura, Gaya, Ajmer, Amritsar, Kanchipuram and Velankanni will also be covered under the new scheme, they added.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in his budget proposals for 2014-15 made a provision of Rs 100 crore in the current financial year for the development of heritage cities.

The Urban Development Ministry has unveiled a general template for development of heritage cities and an action plan with reference to Varanasi was presented before the Prime Minister today.