Dalmia Bharat Group adopts Red Fort; beats IndiGo, GMR sports to bag contract worth Rs 25 crore

It was a glorious moment for Dalmia Bharat Group, as the 77-year-old conglomerate on Saturday adopted the iconic Red Fort under the Tourism Ministry's 'Adopt a Heritage' scheme started in 2017.

"Dalmia Bharat Limited, Ministry of Tourism and Archaeological Survey of India sign MoU to take up the Red Fort, Delhi and Gandikota Fort, Kadapa. @KJAlphons @tourismgoi @DalmiaBharat Becomes the first corporate to sign a MOU under the Government’s 'Adopt a Heritage' project," Dalmia Bharat Group said in a tweet.

The corporate house beat IndiGo Airlines and the GMR sports to bag the contract worth Rs 25 crore for a period of five years. More than 90 monuments including Tal Mahal, Chittorgarh Fort, Mehrauli Archeological Park and Gol Gumbad are up for adoption under this 'Adopt Heritage' scheme.

The scheme was launched by President Ram Nath Kovind on World Tourism Day in September 2017. The deal was signed with Dalmia Bharat Group on April 9 but the Ministry of Tourism made it public on April 24, 2018.

Dalmia Bharat Limited, Ministry of Tourism and Archaeological Survey of India sign MoU to take up the Red Fort, Delhi and Gandikota Fort, Kadapa. @KJAlphons @tourismgoi @DalmiaBharat Becomes the first corporate to sign a MOU under the Government’s “Adopt a Heritage” project. pic.twitter.com/WfsHBaWjGH

— Dalmia Bharat Group (@DalmiaBharat) April 24, 2018

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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.

Keeping in mind the easy accessibility to the differently-abled visitors, there will be ramps and toilet facilities for the differently-abled. Facilities like wheelchairs, battery-operated vehicles, braille signages are some of the key additions, which will make the Red Fort a barrier-free monument.

As per the company's statement, 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.

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The Red Fort was provided with a 10.5 high metre barbican by Aurangzeb with its entrance to the north. Post that, Shah Jahan wrote to Aurangzeb and criticised his decision saying that he has made a fort a bride and set a veil on it.

Every year on the Independence Day, prime minister addresses the nation from the ramparts of the gate and hoists the national flag.