The Budget proposal to develop Rakhigarhi, the largest site of the Harappan culture in the Indian subcontinent, into a “vibrant, experiential cultural destination”, was met with scepticism rather than celebration, in the village in Haryana’s Hisar district, with residents claiming that little work has been carried out at the site since a similar announcement was made in the 2020-21 Union Budget.

The Budget proposal to develop Rakhigarhi, the largest site of the Harappan culture in the Indian subcontinent, into a “vibrant, experiential cultural destination”, was met with scepticism rather than celebration, in the village in Haryana’s Hisar district, with residents claiming that little work has been carried out at the site since a similar announcement was made in the 2020-21 Union Budget.

Zila parishad member from ward no. 28 and former Rakhigarhi sarpanch Dinesh Sheoran said the residents did not distribute sweets this time as they did five years ago. “Little work has been done by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to develop the village. Only a shed has been erected on mound no. 4, a 500-square-yard plot, and a boundary wall constructed in 1996 has been painted,” he claimed.

Deputy Director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Narender, said a hostel, a guest house and a cafeteria had been constructed and inaugurated by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini last year. The civil work for a museum was “almost complete”, said Mr. Narender, adding that all these works are being done by the State government.

He said the Haryana government has prepared a ₹206 crore detailed project report, which includes better connectivity to the village and the mounds, and the entire work is expected to be completed by 2027.