The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) is planning to develop a Heritage City near Mathura at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore. To be spread over 2,965.2 acre, the project will showcase the cultural heritage of the region and provide modern amenities for visitors, including luxury hotels, a yoga centre, a haat for local art and artisans, a convention centre and a resort to attract tourists.
In February 2024, Yeida has approved the revised detailed project report (DPR) of the Heritage City project and sent it to the Uttar Pradesh government for final approval. The DPR was prepared by real estate consultant CBRE South Asia. On March 21, 2024, the Yeida approved the DPR for the project. As per the revised feasibility report and DPR, the project now include new villages.
The project, located in the Raya Urban Center of Mathura, draws inspiration from the narratives of Vrindavan and Mathura, the legends of Lord Krishna and the context of Braj Bhoomi.
Upon committee clearance, a request for proposal (RFP) will be drafted to invite bids from contractors for project completion. Yeida will prepare the bid document mentioning the terms under which developers will be invited to work on the project.
Heritage City features
As cited in a Hindustan Times report, Arun Vir Singh, chief executive officer of Yeida, said, the Heritage City will be located near the 101-km milestone of the Yamuna Expressway, connected to the Banke Bihari temple by a 6.9 km and 100-metre-wide expressway. The expressway will comprise four lanes initially, expandable to six lanes. The theme-based heritage centre will occupy 350 acre, while a yoga wellness centre, naturopathy and Ayurveda facilities will cover 138 acre.
He added that tourist facilities and the development of luxury and budget hotels will utilise 46 acre each, with 97 acre allocated for parks and green spaces. The convention centre will cover 42 acre and other facilities, including old age homes, service apartments and a marketplace for local art and craft and tourist retail.
Under Phase 1 of the project, the Yeida will develop 753 acre at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore. It will include the revival of natural water bodies, including river, canal, ponds and wetlands. A 30-metre buffer zone is planned around the water bodies. The Public Works Department (PWD) will construct an additional bridge across the Yamuna to enhance connectivity, enabling visitors to conveniently park their vehicles and access key temples within the Heritage City.
Heritage City location and connectivity
The Heritage City project will be strategically located near the Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura and well-connected by the National Highway and the Yamuna Expressway. This will help draw domestic as well as international tourists travelling between the Delhi-NCR and Agra region.
Project development
The project will be undertaken through a public-private partnership. The consultant had offered two development options to Yeida – phased development or bundled development. Under the first option, the entire land will be allotted to a single developer, with development planned in phases. Under the second option, the land will be allocated to one or multiple developers focusing on sectoral development, with different developers working for various components such as hospitality, institutional and public facilities, healthcare and recreational areas.
The Bid Evaluation Committee will decide on the chosen development option based on the PPP guidelines after government approval of the DPR, as per the media report.
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