The Hindu Business Line : KTDC to invest Rs 30 cr in tourism infrastructure

OVER the next few months, the Government-owned Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (KTDC) will invest over Rs 30 crore in various ventures intended to improve the tourism infrastructure in the State.

Besides building two new hotels, the company will also renovate an existing property, improve facilities in some of its hotels and expand its network of restaurants and beer parlours, said Mr Pandalam Sudhakaran, Chairman, KTDC.

Addressing a press conference in the city, he said the company would soon begin work on the construction of two new hotels — one each in Kannur and Alappuzha. Both hotels will have 50 rooms and will be in the three-star category. The investment in each hotel is expected to be Rs 8.5 crore, he added.

Also on the cards is an extensive renovation of the company's budget hotel, Chaitram, in Thiruvananthapuram. This property, which is located very close to the city's railway station and central bus stand, will be upgraded to three-star status after the renovation, he said. The overhaul of this property is expected to cost Rs 8.5 crore, Mr Sudhakaran added.

The company has also drawn up plans to set up a microbrewery in its flagship property, Mascot Hotel, in Thiruvananthapuram. The technical aspects of this project, which is likely to cost around Rs 3 crore, are currently being worked out, Mr Sudhakaran said. The microbrewery, which is the first of its kind in the country, will have a capacity of 500 litres a day, said Mr M.N. Gunavardhanan, Managing Director.

In an effort to position its Samudra hotel at Kovalam as a destination for conferences and meetings, the company will soon build a conference hall on the property. The conference hall, which is expected to cost around Rs 50 lakh to build, will be able to accommodate more than 250 people, Mr Sudhakaran said. The company also plans to set up pubs in Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kozhikode. These pubs will be managed by KTDC and will serve draught beer, he added.

KTDC is also looking at the possibility of starting a hotel in Chennai, said Mr Sudhakaran. Plans have been prepared and land for the venture has been acquired. The Tamil Nadu Government has also given its approval for the project, he added.

In response to a query, Mr Sudhakaran said KTDC would be willing to consider taking over the management of the erstwhile ITDC beach resort at Kovalam, if the present owner — Mfar Hotels Ltd — is willing to sell the property. KTDC is willing to run the hotel, provided the State Government helps it acquire the property, he added.

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