Dalmia Bharat Limited signs MoU with GoI to take up the Red Fort, Delhi and Gandikota Fort, Kadapa

New Delhi: Dalmia Bharat Limited today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Tourism for adoption of Red Fort monument under the “Adopt a Heritage” project. With an estimate over Rs. 5 crores per year, Dalmia Bharat Limited joins’Monument Mitras’from other various private sector companies to look after the operations and the maintenance of this heritage site for the next five years.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief guest K. J. Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) and other senior officials of Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India(ASI).

Talking about the signing of MoU, Puneet Dalmia, Managing Director, Dalmia Bharat Group said, “We are very honoured to have adoptedone of the India’s top heritage sites. At Dalmia Bharat, we take pride in Indian culture and practise it at the workplace. For us, it is an extension of what we believe in. Adopting a Heritage Project is a unique endeavour by Ministry of Tourism which envisionsin developing monuments, heritage and tourist sites across India to enhance their tourism potential and cultural importance. We look forward to adding value to India’s heritage sites in every possible manner.”

On the occasion, Sundeep Kumar, Executive Director, Dalmia Bharat said, “We are grateful to the Ministry of Tourism for trusting us and giving us this opportunity. With our dedicated efforts we will endeavour to make Red Fort a world-class monument in terms of amenities and experience. Such initiatives will enhancethe tourist experience, resulting in more footfall from both domestic and foreign tourists. With our efforts we will make Indian heritage sites a symbol of pride for all of us.”

The first of its kind adoption enables Dalmia Bharat to construct, landscape, illuminate and maintain activities related to provision and development of tourist amenities. This includes various basic and advanced amenities such as public conveniences, clean drinking water, cleanliness of the monument, accessibility for all, signage, cloakroom facilities, illumination and night viewing, surveillance system, tourist facilitation cum interpretation centre among others.

In addition to this, Dalmia Bharat will also introduce other key amenities for the visitors like App based Multi lingual Audio-Guide, Digital Interactive Kiosk, Digital (LED) screening, free W-Fi and cafetaria along with souvenir shop which will help in promoting local art and craftsmanship. Keeping in mind easy accessibility to the differently-abled visitors, there will be construction of ramps & differently-abled friendly toilets. Facilities like wheelchair availability, Battery-operated vehicles, braille signages are some of the key addition which will make Red Fort a barrier free monument. Use of advanced surveillance system like PTZ based CCTV cameras will also be installed as permissible guidelines as per ASI. Dalmia Bharat will also assist in controlling the advanced tourist flow management system linked with carrying capacity of the monuments including Light and Sound Shows with regular cultural shows and facilitation of night visits to the monuments.

The Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ (Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan Project) was launched by President of India on World Tourism Day (27th September 2017). Under it, Private, Public Sector Companies and

Corporate individuals are invited to adopt heritage sites and to take up responsibility for making them and promote sustainable tourism through conservation and development under their Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

It is pertinent to mention here, In 2004, the then Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, while speaking on the successful garden restoration, requested that ‘… more public-private partnerships be evolved to maintain and restore our nation’s heritage’.

To fulfil the Prime Minister’s request, AKTC returned to the Humayun’s Tomb-Nizamuddin  Basti area in 2007 to undertake conservation works on several significant monuments while simultaneously undertaking significant socio-economic and environmental development initiatives.

Following the completed garden restoration in 2004, AKTC expanded its activities to encompass an urban renewal project that comprises the adjoining areas of Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti, Sundar Nursery and the Humayun’s Tomb complex.

At the centre of the project is Humayun’s Tomb, built in the 1560’s to a far grander scale than any other earlier tomb in the Islamic world, which was the precursor of the famed Taj Mahal.