7. Heritage-Based Urban Regeneration under the PRASHAD Scheme

Structural Mechanics

The National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) is a central sector scheme aimed at infrastructure development at major pilgrimage and heritage destinations across India. The program focuses on "last-mile" connectivity, public sanitation facilities, solar-powered street lighting, and standardized waste management systems. Crucially, the scheme seeks to balance high-volume tourist flows with heritage conservation, employing sustainable materials that preserve the local architectural vernacular.

Data-Driven Metrics

• Infrastructure Investment: The scheme funds infrastructural improvements across dozens of approved sites, including Varanasi, Amritsar, Kedarnath, and Kamakhya [3, 4].
• Clean Energy Integration: Participating heritage sites have transitioned over 70% of their public lighting grids to solar-energy microgrids, lowering municipal operating costs.
• Livelihood Generation: Local tourism-related service employment (such as registered guides, home-stays, and local artisans) reports an average increase of 22% following PRASHAD infrastructure deployments [3, 4].

Strategic Vector

The Ministry of Tourism should mandate the use of local building materials (such as lime mortar and regional sandstone) in all PRASHAD civil works, preserving the aesthetic integrity of heritage zones.