Newstrack

EmaarMGF to set up 3 luxury hotels in Kolkata

Signs MoU with WBTDC, SIDC

EH Staff - Kolkata

Real estate developer EmaarMGF Land has signed an agreement with the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) and Sunderbans Infrastructure Development Corp (SIDC) to accelerate tourism growth in the state.

As part the terms of the agreement, EmaarMGF will work towards expanding West Bengal's tourism portfolio and will develop existing tourist destinations, including the Sunderbans. Commenting on the development, Sanjiv Rai, its COO (Hospitality), said, "Our focus on hospitality aligns with the government's vision to position West Bengal as a gateway to the east for inbound and outbound tourists. We have chalked out big plans for the state and will set up three luxury hotels in the city."

The group will build 250-keys each JW Marriott and Holiday Inn Kolkata on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass with an investment of Rs 750 crore. A 250-keys Park Hyatt at Russell Street in the central business district of the city will come up at a cost of Rs 550 crore. The projects are likely to become operational by December 2011.

The infrastructure giant also plans to invest in a mixed-use residential, hospitality and healthcare project on the Kona Expressway with an investment of Rs 800 crore. It will be spread over an area of nearly 40 acres. In addition, the company plans to set up budget and business hotels in other major cities of the state like Durgapur, Burdwan, Siliguri, Asansol, Haldia and Darjeeling. Rai added the group is also interested in setting up eco-resorts in the deltaic region of Sunderbans and the Dooars. The investment for these projects is pegged at around Rs 500 crore.

Manabendra Mukherjee, the state's tourism minister, revealed, "Work on infrastructure development at the proposed site at Jharkhali in the Sundarbans will begin soon." Building roads and jetties together with providing power and water connections will be part of the infrastructure development in the earmarked area spread over 400 hectares. The minister said the WBTDC and SIDC are also planning to set up a joint venture to develop tourism in the Sunderbans region. He also indicated that approval from concerned agencies for the EmaarMGF projects in the Sundarbans will not be delayed.