Rakhigarhi in Haryana is the largest site of the Harappan culture in the Indian subcontinent.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget announcement on Sunday (February 1, 2026) to develop Hisar’s Rakhigarhi, the largest Harappan site in the Indian sub-continent, into “vibrant, experiential cultural destination” was met with scepticism, instead of celebration, with the villagers claiming that little work had been carried at the site in the wake of a similar announcement in the Union Budget for 2020-21.
In her Union Budget 2020-21 speech, Ms. Sitharaman had announced that five archaeological sites would be developed as iconic sites with on-site Museums –.Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh) Shivsagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu). The locals broke into celebrations following the announcement back then hoping that it will put their village on the international map and create job opportunities for the youth.
However, five years down the line, the locals claim that the progress made on the project was “very slow”.
Ward No. 28 Zila Parishad member and former Rakhigarhi Sarpanch Dinesh Sheoran said they did not distribute sweets this time unlike the previous occasion as they had little hope. “It has been five years since the earlier announcement, but little work has been done by the Archaeological Survey of India to develop this village as an iconic site. Only a shed has been erected on mound no. 4, a 500 sq yards land parcel, and a boundary wall constructed in 1996 was painted,” he claimed.
Deputy Director, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Narender, said a hostel, a guest-house and a cafeteria were constructed and inaugurated by Chief Minister Nayab Sainai last year. The civil work of the Museum was “almost” complete, he said, adding that all this work was carried by the State government.
He said the State government had prepared a Rs.206 crore Detailed Project Report, which included better connectivity to the village and to the mounds, and the entire work was expected to be completed by 2027.
An official at Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chandigarh Circle, said around Rs.1 crore was spent on the project so far by the ASI, conceding that no separate budget was allocated for the development of the Rakhigarhi by the central government. Additional Director General, ASI, Sanjay Manjul, did not reply to a query on the work carried out by the ASI.
Ms. Sitharaman, in her latest budget speech has proposed to “develop 15 archaeological sites including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh Palace into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations”. “Excavated landscapes will be opened to the public through curated walkways. Immersive storytelling skills and technologies will be introduced to help conservation labs, interpretation centres, and guides,” she said.
Addressing the gathering at the second state-level Rakhigarhi Mahotsav on December 26, Mr. Saini said the Central Government has allocated ₹500 crore in the Union Budget to develop Rakhigarhi, a witness to India’s ancient and glorious civilization, into a prestigious global landmark. He also inaugurated the Harappan Knowledge Centre on the occasion.
Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala, in a post on “X”, said: “Haryana has no name or trace in #Budget2026! Got the ASI’s rattle in Rakhi Garhi! When the government is “Nayab” then…. Injustice will be done to Haryana again and again!
Published – February 03, 2026 12:12 pm IST
