New Delhi, April 28: India’s iconic Red Fort has now been adopted by Dalmia Bharat Group under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Adopt A Heritage’ scheme.  On Saturday, the Ministry of Tourism signed a MoU with Dalmia Bharat and the Archaeological Survey of India to adopt the iconic Red Fort monument in New Delhi and Gandikota Fort in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh under the 'Adopt a Heritage' project.

The 'Adopt a Heritage' scheme, launched by President Ram Nath Kovind on World Tourism Day in September last year, invites government and private parties to operate and maintain heritage sites.

On Tuesday, the ministry also awarded the Letters of Intent to nine agencies for 22 monuments of Phase-IV of the scheme, including the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, Mehrauli Archeological Park and Gol Gumbad in Delhi.

It must be noted that the 77-year-old Dalmia Bharat group has created history by adopting the historic monument, which was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan back in the 17th century. With a budget of more than Rs 5 crore per year, the cement manufacturing company joins "monument mitras". Meanwhile, the other private sector companies, which will look after the operations and maintenance of the site for five years, it said. The conglomerate has become the first corporate house in India’s history to adopt a historical monument in a contract worth Rs 250 million (or Rs 25 crore) spanning five years.

Under the project, it will construct, landscape, illuminate and maintain activities related to provision and development of tourist amenities. This includes 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.

Union Minister for Tourism KJ Alphons asked the stakeholders to "protect, preserve and market" the heritage of India. He emphasised on creating awareness among corporates and citizens to adopt the heritage sites under the scheme for maintenance of amenities at tourist destinations, a PTI report informed.

The Dalmia Group in a statement said that that advanced surveillance system like pan-tilt-zoom CCTV cameras will be installed. 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.

(With inputs from Agencies)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 28, 2018 04:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).