Mitron, we just ‘sold’ the Red Fort!

Red Fort remains the property of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Dalmias cannot make any changes in the historical monument nor make money in any way as the scheme under which they bagged the contract is only aimed to protect, preserve and market the heritage of India, Tourism Minister K J Alphons and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Red Fort was signed by the Tourism Ministry, Culture Ministry, ASI and Dalmia Bharat on April 9, but the controversy erupted after the Tourism Ministry made it public on Wednesday.

The two ministers said the deal is part of the "Adopt the heritage" scheme (Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan Project) launched by the President of India on World Tourism Day on September 27 last year to encourage private and public sector companies and corporate individuals as well as NGOs to adopt heritage sites and to take up responsibility to promote sustainable tourism by creating new facilities.

The Congress asked whether there's a shortage of funds with the Ministry of Tourism and ASI to bring in the private corporate sector. Mahesh Sharma asserted that there is no shortage of funds to maintain monuments, but it is part of the scheme to involve people in their promotions instead of all responsibilities falling on the government.

Though Sharma claimed that the companies will be adopting the heritage sites as a "social responsibility" and not to make any money out of it, Dalmia Bharat Group that bagged the Red Fort contract thinks otherwise as its executives claimed that it will charge people visiting the Red Fort for the semi-commercial activities that it plans to conduct as the MoU envisages rate-fixing by a joint committee of Culture Ministry, ASI and Dalmia Bharat Group.

Puneet Dalmia, Managing Director of the Dalmia Bharat Group said, "We are honoured to have adopted one of 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 the Ministry of Tourism which envisions 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."

The MoU envisages Dalmias to start work within 30 days and complete two tasks before PM Modi's Independence Day address from Red Fort. These are front facade lighting and an art installation for the Independence Day event.

The contract requires Dalmias to provide certain basic amenities within six months like drinking water kiosks, street furniture-like benches and shop signage while oneyear targets include tactile maps, upgraded toilets, lighting up pathways and bollards, landscaping, building a 1000 sq ft visitors facility centre, 3-D projection mapping of Red Fort interior and exterior, battery-operated vehicles and a thematic cafeteria.