SRINAGAR: The Centre has approved a Rs 1.21 crore National Culture Fund (NCF) project for development of visitor amenities at the Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar during the financial year 2026-27, according to data placed before the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The project is among the National Culture Fund-backed works being undertaken at monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), with the latest allocation covering development of amenities at the historic temple.
The Union Ministry of Culture said ASI had undertaken state-wise assessments of conservation, preservation and development works at centrally protected monuments and regularly inspected the sites to determine conservation requirements.
For Jammu and Kashmir, ASI’s Srinagar Circle was allocated Rs 7.17 crore in 2023-24, of which the entire amount was spent. In 2024-25, Rs 4.90 crore was allocated and Rs 4.89 crore spent, while in 2025-26, the allocation stood at Rs 5.95 crore, all of which was expended.
For the current financial year, Rs 4.70 crore had been allocated to the Srinagar Circle, with Rs 2.12 crore spent up to August 5, 2026.
Across the country, ASI allocated Rs 421.98 crore for conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments in 2023-24 and spent the entire amount. In 2024-25, Rs 307.37 crore was allocated against expenditure of Rs 307.06 crore, while Rs 369.51 crore was allocated and Rs 369.40 crore spent in 2025-26.
During 2026-27, Rs 348.96 crore had been allocated nationally, of which Rs 135.80 crore had been spent up to August 5.
The Ministry clarified that monuments are not protected under the National Culture Fund itself. Instead, the NCF provides financial assistance for conservation, renovation and development works at selected monuments and cultural heritage sites protected by ASI.
Besides the Srinagar project, recent NCF-backed projects include conservation and development of the Ancient Palace of Shey in Ladakh, preservation and development of tourist infrastructure at the Jogeshwari Caves in Maharashtra, and conservation of Vikramshila Mahavihara in Bihar.
The Government said ASI regularly reviews visitor facilities, digital documentation, conservation works and heritage-promotion programmes at protected monuments. It said community-oriented activities include heritage walks, talks, drawing and painting competitions, photo exhibitions and consultations with local communities.
Nationally, visitor facilities at ASI-protected monuments include 593 sites with drinking-water facilities, 586 with male toilets, 572 with female toilets, 351 with facilities for persons with disabilities, 326 with wheelchairs, 257 with CCTV and 272 with QR-code-based facilities.
The Ministry also said ASI undertakes conservation and maintenance of centrally protected monuments, including lesser-known heritage sites, based on requirements and availability of resources.
