SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) chairman Saleng Sangma has said that the Crowborough Hotel will be handed over to the operators by September this year.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said that the government is pushing hard to complete the long-pending project adding that Taj Vivanta has appointed a General Manager for inventories and that he has started procuring furniture and other utilities.
The state government in 2019 had engaged the Indian Hotels Co. Ltd (Taj Vivanta) to operate the five-star hotel.
Once completed, the hotel will have several economy, standard and deluxe rooms, suites, banquet hall, a coffee shop besides a parking lot.
It may be mentioned that Crowborough Hotel was a long pending project of the state which was initiated on March 10, 1987. The project was proposed on a PPP mode using the Build, Operate, Lease, Transfer model.
The work was delayed as the building permission had to be sought dated back to the 80s and work again resumed in the 2000s.
Sangma also informed that for the Umiam Lake Resort, the government will have attractions like paragliding, jet ski, cable cars and a floating restaurant.
“People will have a good experience. These are the attractions we have created so far. I am proud to say that in my time we have bought the jet ski and parasailing equipment,” Sangma said.
He also informed that sanctions for procuring the jet ski and paragliders were given a few days back. He said that the process of procurement is on and soon these will be installed in Umiam Lake.
On the floating restaurant in Umiam Lake, the MTDC Chairman said that they have not managed to complete it and the government has asked the firm from Kolkata engaged for the project to expedite work. “I think in the next few months it will be completed and can be inaugurated,” Sangma said attributing the delay to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sangma said that process for installing the cable car in the Umiam Lake is on.
“We are examining the areas which will be suitable. In Umiam Lake area we have identified from Convention Centre to the Island. The government has to consider the risk factor and needs to be careful. The cable car can be a major attraction since the Umiam Lake area is beautiful,” he added.