MTDC To Add Three More Properties

Reema Sisodia - Mumbai

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has announced its plans to add three more owned and managed properties to its portfolio. The three properties would be at Kindsey, Shilari and Khekarnala all in Nagpur. Work on all three properties have already completed. Kindsey in Nagpur, which would be a 14 room property has already commenced operations from December 31, 2005. The 16 room Selari property and the eight-room and eight-dormitory property at Khekarnala will also open in the first quarter of 2005. At present MTDC has 22 properties within its fold which are owned and managed by them, while 29 properties have been privatised. The organisation is also keen to receive tenders from interested parties to take up few of their properties with regards to management and operations.

According to sources from MTDC, one of their prime property at Malshej Ghat which was leased out to a private operator has been brought back under its control. The organisation is expecting to receive Rs five crore investment from central government for refurbishment of the property, which would be fully functional in the next two years. Bhandardhara, which was a non performing property, has witnessed a major turnaround after its refurbishment work. MTDC is also aiming to set and develop a portal which would feature most standardised hotel properties both within and outside the jurisdiction of MTDC. Amongst their recently established properties, Tarkarli has received international tourist arrivals, while the other recent venture, a jungle resort at Moharli in the Tadoba region is hoping to improve its marketability.