Taj group interested in Patna, land a concern

The state capital's skylines have been transformed in the past few years with a number of posh multiplexes and shopping malls giving Patna a semi -metro look. Anirban Guha Roy reports.

The state capital's skylines have been transformed in the past few years with a number of posh multiplexes and shopping malls giving Patna a semi -metro look. Very soon, the city would get something it has aspired for long: a posh five star hotel.

HT Image

Yes, the Patnaites have something to cheer about, as the Taj group has evinced interest to set up a swanky five start hotel within the city's urban limits.

The property to be raised at a whopping Rs 92 crore would certainly force a paradigm shift in the hospitality sector and also revolutionise the way social functions, seminars and conferences are held in the city.

Afzal Amanullah, principal secretary, industries department, told HT that the proposal to construct a five star hotel of the TAJ group has been okayed in the recent meeting of the state investment promotion board ( SIPB). That is not all.

The SIPB has also cleared another proposal for a three star hotel in Aurangabad , a district town which of late has come under the spotlight for big ticket investment like NTPC power plant and a railway factory near the erstwhile industrial hub of Dalimianagar.

A number of big ticket investment proposals have been cleared, many of which are in district towns including Aurangabad. The town is emerging as a big investment hub, said Amannullah.

On the five star project, he said the proposal was mooted by the M/s Unique property private limited, a company which is to collaborate with the Indian Hotel Limited which controls the luxurious Taj group of hotels. "We have given the clearance to the proposal. Now, the company has to scout for land to set up the hotel," he said.

Of course, getting land is a major challenge as the property would be set up on an area of seven acres. Those in know of the proposal say, the promoters of the premier project would look for land which has good connectivity to the airport and railway station. This is the only concern.

Evidently, the hoteliers in the city could look forward for some competition in the days to come and match their services with those of premier hotels, which are the first choice of high profile visitors. Needless to say, Patnaites will have now a better choice to savor some good food and also enjoy the best of facilities on par with the metros.