Conservation Engineering in Urban India: Addressing Policy Gaps in Historic Core Management

Abstract

India’s historic urban cores—dense, culturally rich zones with layered histories—are increasingly under threat from unregulated urban development, inadequate legal protections, and fragmented governance structures. This paper investigates the disconnect between conservation policies and on-ground realities in preserving heritage precincts within growing Indian cities. Drawing from secondary data and urban planning literature, the study identifies key shortcomings in institutional frameworks, assesses challenges posed by commercialization and infrastructural pressure, and compares Indian conservation policies with international best practices like UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape (HUL). The paper concludes with strategic recommendations to reform planning regulations, promote participatory conservation, and reposition heritage as an integral part of sustainable urban development.

Introduction

India’s cities are rich, layered cultural landscapes shaped by dynastic, colonial, and modern histories, evident in places like Old Delhi and Jaipur. However, rapid urban growth threatens these historic cores due to fragmented policies, overlapping jurisdictions, and weak local enforcement. While national policies acknowledge heritage conservation, local urban development often prioritizes short-term economic gains over cultural preservation.

Current Policy Landscape:
India’s heritage conservation is governed by a patchwork of central laws (like the AMASR Act), state heritage acts, and municipal regulations, which often overlap or conflict. Coverage is limited mostly to nationally important monuments, leaving many heritage precincts underprotected. Programs such as HRIDAY and the Smart Cities Mission focus mainly on aesthetic improvements rather than integrated conservation. Decentralization mandated by the 74th Constitutional Amendment has not effectively empowered local bodies in heritage management.

Case Studies Highlight Challenges:

• Bhopal: Historic lakefront architecture suffers from poor zoning, traffic issues, and gentrification displacing traditional communities.

• Jaipur: Commercialization threatens the integrity of the Pink City’s historic havelis, with inadequate enforcement of heritage laws.

• Hyderabad: Historic water structures face encroachment and neglect; revival efforts exist but lack formal city-level frameworks.

Global Models and Lessons:
International examples (Barcelona, Kyoto) employ unified legal frameworks, heritage-specific zoning, incentives like transfer of development rights (TDRs), community participation, and integrated urban planning. India’s approach remains fragmented and monument-centric rather than precinct-focused.

Policy Recommendations:

• Create a unified Urban Heritage Conservation Act.

• Mandate local heritage listings and digital inventories.

• Introduce conservation zoning with incentives (TDRs, tax rebates).

• Establish Heritage Cells within Urban Local Bodies.

• Encourage participatory conservation involving civil society and residents.

These reforms aim to align urban development with heritage protection, ensuring sustainable preservation of India’s historic urban cores.

Conclusion

Historic urban cores represent the identity, resilience, and spirit of Indian cities. Their survival depends not just on restoration but on systemic reforms in planning, policy, and governance. As we move toward Viksit Bharat 2047, heritage must be seen not as a hindrance but a cornerstone of sustainable urbanism. This study urges architects, planners, and policymakers to integrate heritage into the core of city development, with regulatory clarity, local empowerment, and public engagement. A nation that forgets its roots risks losing its future.

References

[1] UNESCO. (2011). Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape. Paris: UNESCO. [2] INTACH. (2017). Guidelines for Heritage Listing. New Delhi. [3] Jain, A. (2020). \"Urban Heritage Management in India: Policy Challenges,\" Journal of Planning Theory, vol. 15(2), pp. 98–112. [4] Kumar, R., & Mehta, S. (2018). \"Fading Glory of Havelis in Rajasthan,\" Journal of Architectural Conservation, vol. 24(4), pp. 289–305. [5] Singh, P. (2021). \"Adaptive Reuse of Stepwells in Hyderabad,\" Built Heritage Review, vol. 11(3), pp. 120–135. [6] Sharma, M. (2019). \"Smart Cities and Heritage Cores,\" Urban India, vol. 39(1), pp. 45–60.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Gunja Goyal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.