News Release Details

The President of India Visits IndianOil Foundation Trust Interpretation Centre at Konark
New Delhi   22-Mar-2021

Hon'ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, today visited the IndianOil Foundation (IOF) Trust Interpretation Centre at Konark. Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a warm welcome by Hon'ble Union Minister, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Govt. of India and Trustee Chairman of IOF Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. Present on the occasion were Shri SM Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, Shri Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Director (HR) and Trustee Secretary of IOF.

The President was taken around the interpretation centre, and he appreciated the efforts of IndianOil in Protecting, Preserving and Promoting India's glorious past. Speaking on the occasion, the President complimented the IndianOil Foundation (IOF) and appreciated the modern amenities it was providing to the tourists at the temple complex.

A non-profit trust fully funded by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil), under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the IOF has developed this world-class infrastructure and associated facilities, including the state-of-the-art Interpretation Centre, highlighting the unique architectural features of Konark Sun Temple.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan thanked the President for taking time out of his busy schedule and visiting the Interpretation Centre at Konark, which has been developed as a new-age museum backed by different means of communication to aid and stimulate the discovery process while enhancing the visitor's intellectual and emotional connect to the site.

Explaining the corporate agenda of IndianOil, Shri SM Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, said that a robust social quotient and care for the community & heritage has always been the focus of Team IndianOil.

As the Sun Temple stands testimony to our centuries-old heritage, an urgent and pressing need was felt to have a world-class Interpretation Centre to appreciate better the craft and heritage of this epitome of beauty. This need prompted The IndianOil Foundation (IOF) to take up the cause of creating world-class infrastructure facilities. IOF's pioneering work has substantially revamped and spruced up the entire complex.

Creatively planned and constructed in close association with Engineers India Limited (EIL), Tourism Department of Odisha and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the facility has evolved into a multi-faceted tourist hub, which includes the main avenue, elegant water bodies, well-manicured gardens, paved roads, ample streetlights and high-mast towers adding a touch of class to the entire setting. The world-class Interpretation Centre is spread across eight acres. Built at the cost of Rs 50 crore, the Konark Interpretation Centre was inaugurated by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on April 1, 2018.

About the IndianOil Foundation: 

India is a land of incredible diversity - in culture, people and languages. The history of India, which can be traced back to ancient times, is rich and stimulating. Many heritage monuments from past centuries still stand tall as a testimony to our glorious past.

With the objective of Protecting, Preserving and Promoting this glorious past, IndianOil on August 24 2000, created a non-profit trust, the IndianOil Foundation (IOF), in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Culture Fund of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Exclusively funded by IndianOil, the Foundation aims to adopt at least one Heritage site in every State and Union Territory for Development of Tourist Infrastructure Facilities.

K. John Prasad
Chief General Manager
Corporate Communications
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.