CWG preparation: Increase in 'Definite' Hotel Rooms for tourists

There has been an increase in the number of 'Definite' rooms being prepared for the upcoming Commonwealth Games over the past few months, a review by the Ministry of Tourism said.

The review shows that there are 11,793 definite rooms to cater to tourists during the Games, showing an increase of 812 rooms since the previous review. Further, 8,659 rooms have been completed, out of the overall 11,793 'definite' rooms, it was revealed at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Secretary Tourism Sujit Banerjee recently to take stock of the various arrangements related to the augmentation of hotel accommodation coming up for the Commonwealth Games in the National Capital Region of Delhi.

The performance of Haryana has been consistent with nearly 93 per cent of the 'definite' 7,221 rooms having been completed. The review indicated commendable performance by Uttar Pradesh since the last meeting of the Task Force held in April 2010. There are 377 functional rooms and 609 definite rooms showing an increase of 71 rooms and 303 rooms respectively in NOIDA. In respect to Greater NOIDA, the definite rooms have shown an increase by 408 rooms and thus 569 rooms have now been placed in the definite category. In Ghaziabad, there would be 672 functional rooms, and the definite category now stands at 1,363 rooms showing an increase of 295 rooms. All the land owning agencies, vis a vis, DDA, the Haryana Government, Uttar Pradesh and other stakeholders vis a vis MCD, NDMC, Ministry of Urban Development, DJB, BSES, ITDC attended the meeting.

At the meeting, the Secretary, Tourism reviewed all the new hotel projects coming up for the CWG-2010 along with the licensed Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfast establishments, DDA Housing flats located at Vasant Kunj which would be operated by ITDC. The Secretary stressed the need to ensure the timely completion of the remaining 3,134 'definite rooms by DDA, Haryana and other land owning agencies and desired that all efforts may be made to complete the maximum of 'likely' rooms into a 'definite' category.

It was requested that all the land owning agencies should also take up the upgradation and beautification of the surrounding areas and approach roads to the new hotel projects which are coming up. It was again emphasised that Setting-up of a Single Window System for the grant of various clearances to the hotels would be a positive step in this direction. It was also informed that the issue of clearances was critical for the hotels, as the benefits announced by the Government of the 5 year Tax Holiday would be available to 2, 3 and 4 star category hotels under sections 80-ID of the Income Tax Act, only if they started operation by July 31.

It is estimated that around 11,028 rooms would be available from the licensed Guest Houses in the NCT of Delhi. The Ministry of Tourism is providing skill development training to the owners and the staff of these identified licensed Guest Houses through the IHM, Pusa. Beautification / upgradation of the surrounding areas to Guest Houses in Karol Bagh, and Pahar Ganj was reviewed and MCD was directed to complete all the works regarding upgradation /beautification of the identified major and internal roads, urinal blocks, rotaries, parks and signages etc. The Secretary (Tourism) advised that these works be reviewed on a more regular basis to ensure that these are completed by June 30.

The meeting was informed that recently, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja had personally reviewed the progress of CWG related accommodation and beautification work at Paharganj on May 24.

With regard to the Bed & Breakfast establishments, It was informed during the meeting that presently there are a total of 2,007 rooms in the NCR of Delhi (1,230 rooms in Delhi and 777 rooms in the NCR ie. Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad).

The Representative of the Delhi Government informed that efforts are being made to expedite all pending applications and for wider publicity of the Scheme to enlist more homeowners to join the scheme. Secretary (Tourism) directed that the list of all the Bed and Breakfast establishment should be up dated on the official website of the Games Travel Office for wider publicity. Mr Sujit Banerjee, while appreciating the efforts made so far, directed all the concerned agencies / departments to regularly review and monitor the creation of accommodation and the measures for upgrading the infrastructure being undertaken so that sufficient time is available for booking and reservation by the tourists well before the Games.