The Centre on Monday requested the state to hasten the process of “Adopt a Heritage” scheme for the Konark Temple.

Under it, the government invites entities, including public sector companies, private sector firms as well as individuals, to develop selected monuments as well as heritage and tourist sites across India.

Director-general, tourism, Satyajeet Rajan, during a session on tourism investment at the Make in Odisha Conclave, said this was ideal time to rope in the private sector to maintain the tourist sites.

According to sources, TK International Limited has been shortlisted to be the “Monument Mitra” for the Unesco World Heritage Site.

“Entrepreneurs can make tourism happening, and since we are in the middle of competing environment, it is important for the government to understand the same. I request investors here to take up the task of management of the Konark Temple as the project is stuck and is not moving beyond a point,” he said.

Rajan further said he was hopeful that more projects would come up form the state government in the field of tourism. “The projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan and Prasad schemes should be completed at the earliest, so that more funds can be granted,” he said.

In a related development, the state government spoke about various steps that it had been taking to promote tourism in Odisha.

Recently, the Odisha Tourism tag line was changed to “India’s Best Kept Secret”, and its logo would be released shortly. “We have been requesting for air connectivity to Dubai to the Centre, but despite repeated attempts, we have not been successful,” he said. Rajan further assured the investors to provide full support to various aspects of tourism.

Diversified conglomerate ITC Limited promised that its luxury hotel under the Welcom Hotels brand would be ready in the state by next year. “The project, along with the ITC’s integrated social investment initiatives in Odisha spanning crucial areas such as social forestry, watershed development, sustainable agriculture, livestock development and health and sanitation, will make a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic development of the state,” said ITC managing director Sanjiv Puri.

“Investment-friendly policies, good governance, robust infrastructure, mineral and agriculture resources and access to other markets have made the state a complete investment destination,” he said.

A number of hoteliers, tour operators and stakeholders in the field attended the session.