Nayab Singh Saini inaugurates three Development Projects worth Rs. 20 Crore in Rakhigarhi

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated three development projects worth Rs. 20 crores at the museum and interpretation centre in Rakhigarhi, a historic site of the Indus Valley Civilization. These projects include a rest house, a hostel, and a cafeteria. 

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Haryana Heritage and Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma and Public Works and Public Health Engineering Minister, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa also remained present along with other dignitaries. 

The Chief Minister and the Union Minister also unveiled a booklet prepared on the iconic site of Rakhigarhi on this occasion. The Chief Minister said that the newly developed rest house, cafeteria, and hostel will provide excellent facilities for tourists and students visiting from across the country and abroad. 

The 17-room rest house is equipped with modern amenities. The hostel comprises 13 dormitories for student accommodation, along with a dining hall facility. On this occasion, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister, Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also visited the exhibition organized by the Department of Archaeology and Museums. 

The exhibition displayed various Harappan-era artefacts discovered during excavations, including children’s toys, terracotta cartwheels, lamps, terracotta beads, necklaces, and other objects.

Meeting on Development of Rakhigarhi

Following the event, the Chief Minister and the Union Minister held a meeting with officers to review the development plan for Rakhigarhi as a tourism centre. Directions were issued to the concerned departments to expedite the construction work of the Rakhigarhi Museum and Interpretation Centre.

The Chief Minister and Union Minister further directed that sheds be built at archaeological sites so that excavation work can continue throughout the year. They emphasized the importance of integrating the museum with the archaeological sites and preparing a detailed plan for lighting, parking, and other tourist facilities.

Later speaking to the media after the meeting, Union Minister Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that excavations in Rakhigarhi since the 1960s have provided concrete evidence that a highly developed human civilization existed here around 8000 years ago. 

The discoveries made during the excavations strongly prove that India’s civilization is the oldest in the world. He expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Haryana Government in developing Rakhigarhi into a major tourism and research hub for archaeologists and historians. 

The development work is planned to be completed in various phases, he said. The Union Minister, also praised the quality and planning of the work undertaken by the Haryana Government. He added that another significant archaeological site in Hisar, Agroha, is currently undergoing excavation. 

There was an in-depth discussion on integrating such sites to establish a comprehensive centre for the Indus-Saraswati civilization, and all related projects will be completed within the next two years. Before the meeting, the Union Minister visited the archaeological sites.

LAs, Sh. Vinod Bhayana and Sh. Randhir Panihar, former Rajya Sabha MP Sh. D.P. Vats, former Minister Captain Abhimanyu, Principal Secretary, Heritage & Tourism Department Smt.  Kala Ramachandran, Director Archaeology Sh. Amit Khatri and other dignitaries remained present on this occasion.