The illuminated Sun Temple in Konark

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 21: The much-awaited light and sound show at Khandagiri-Udayagiri, Dhauli and Konark will be introduced before the Nabakalebar festival in July next year.

The tourism department today signed a memorandum of understanding with the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in this regard. The maintenance, however, will be the responsibility of the state government. The estimated cost of project for Khandagiri-Udayagiri is Rs 6.15 crore, while for Dhauli and Konark it will be Rs 6.06 crore and Rs 6.56 crore, respectively. The ministry of tourism will provide Rs 5 crore for each project and the state government will invest the rest from its tourism budget.

Tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda said: “The three major tourism destinations will act as the torch-bearer of Odishan cultural heritage. With lakhs of devotees from across the world likely to throng the state during Nabakalebar, the light and sound shows will be added attraction for them.”

(From left) Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Suresh Oberoi

ITDC senior official Trinath Behera said the tender process had already started for Dhauli and Konark and the same would be done shortly for Khandagiri and Udayagiri. “The work will start within a month or two and will be over by March next year,” he said.

On being asked about the execution of the project, he said while the art director would supervise the dramatisation part and the sets, the technical adviser would ensure proper mixing of light and sound at the venue and the scriptwriter would be focusing on the theme.

However, as announced earlier, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will not be able to lend his voice to the shows due to health reasons. “Many light and sound shows are conducted across the country and we have actors such as Suresh Oberoi, Om Puri, Nasiruddin Shah on our panel to lend voices. However, it is up to the Odisha government to decide who it wants for the purpose,” said Behera.

Tourism secretary Arabinda Padhee said: “All the light and sound shows will be conducted in Odia, Hindi and English and as per the demand of the script the voice will be selected from an array of actors as Bachchan expressed his inability to lend his voice.”