The Hindu Business Line : 3 hotel chains sign pact to develop resorts at Bekal

THE State Government-owned Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC), which is responsible for developing Bekal in Kerala's Kasargod district as a tourist destination, has entered into licence agreements with three hotel chains for developing three of the area's six resort sites.

Confirming this development, Mr K.V. Mohankumar, Managing Director, BRDC, told Business Line that licence agreements have been signed with the Mumbai-based Khanna Hotels, the New Delhi-based Bharat Hotels Ltd and the UAE-based Holiday group of companies owned by an NRI.

The BRDC has also invited competitive bids from those interested in leasing the remaining three resort sites that constitute the Bekal project zone, he added.

Under the terms of the licence agreement signed with the three hospitality companies, work on the construction of the resorts must start in six months and the entire project must be completed in two years. If these timetables are not met, the developers will have to pay a penalty to the BRDC. The actual lease agreements for each site will be entered into only when the resorts are ready for business. While the leases are initially for a period of 30 years, they can be extended for another 30 years.

Meanwhile, the BRDC has completed most of the infrastructure work within the Bekal project zone, which covers an area of approximately 220 acres. "The sites are completely ready for occupation," said Mr Mohankumar. Construction of internal roads, establishment of a Rs 12-crore water supply scheme and installation of a power supply system are some of the infrastructure projects the company has implemented, he explained.

Commenting on the three resort sites for which bids have now been invited, Mr Mohankumar pointed out that the site designated `RS5' is possibly the most picturesque of all the resort properties within the Bekal project zone.

This site, which covers an area of 28.6 acres, has substantial beach frontage, access to the backwaters and also includes a cliff that provides a view of a large section of the coastline, he said.

Meanwhile, tourism industry sources point out that the Leela and Oberoi hotel chains appear to have shelved their plans to develop luxury resorts at Bekal. Both hotel chains were among those who had initially expressed an interest in the Bekal project.

The Taj group, which was also expected to invest in Bekal, is believed to be in the race for one of the three resort sites for which bids have now been invited.

More Stories on : Resorts & Amusement Parks | Tourism | Kerala

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