The Hindu Business Line : APTDC to build hotel in Shirdi

IN an effort to provide better facilities to the increasing flow of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh to the temple town of Shirdi in neighbouring Maharastra, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), will soon take up the construction of an 100-room hotel.

APTDC came to the decision, after a quick survey and the feedback obtained from pilgrims, showed that the existing hospitality infrastructure in the small town, especially the hotels, were not capable of meeting the demands, in the form of offering the required rooms.

Accordingly, the corporation favoured the option of constructing its own hotel at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore and has formally written to the Maharashtra State Finance Corporation (MSFC) seeking suitable land and other permissions required for taking up the project, the State Tourism Minister, Mr T. Srinivas Yadav, informed the Legislative Assembly in a written reply.

The construction work would be taken up as soon as APTDC gets the necessary approvals from MSFC. The proposed hotel, when completed, would be a benefit to the pilgrims who opt for the package tours to Shirdi offered by the corporation in its luxury coaches.

Interestingly, about 5-8 lakh pilgrims are estimated to be travelling from the State to Shirdi annually. APTDC runs a 42-seater luxury Volvo coach and another 36-seater daily, in addition to double the number during weekends. There are also scores of private operators who reach tourists to this popular destination, according to the corporation spokesperson.

For APTDC also, the project would be its first foray towards developing its own property in another State. This apart, APTDC had also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with its counterparts in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and more recently with Rajasthan to improve facilities for tourists and also provide better and attractive packages to various destinations in these States on a mutually-beneficial terms.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Looking for a good bet

Indian auto industry close to global standards

Budget hopes drive down car sales during Feb

Extra levies feared in Karnataka Budget

Industry grows 6.4 pc in January

Textile market access tops agenda of EU talks

Roadmap for future of SEZs in offing

`Priority to local body projects'

High input cost hits plastics units

Will TNERC pull the plug on free power?

Increase in power tariff decried