IRCTC to set up budget hotels

BHUBANESWAR: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a mini-Ratna PSU, has decided to foray into the hotel sector for the first time in the State.  IRCTC general manager (east zone) Amlan Kumar Biswas said the company would set up budget hotels as part of its tourism promotion activities in the State. Accordingly, the IRCTC will begin work on a budget hotel in Bhubaneswar from October 2, the land for which has been allotted by the Government near the Bhubaneswar Railway Station. The 100-room hotel will have a restaurant and the room tariff will range between ` 500 and ` 700. Land has also been sought from the Government for setting up another hotel at Puri. Earlier this week, the Corporation had a meeting with Tourism Department officials on land for the budget hotels.   The IRCTC has planned to set up the hotel on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. “Once the construction is done through tender process, the hotel will be handed over on a long-term lease of 30 years,” Biswas said. The IRCTC also held discussions with the Tourism Department on using government-run Panthanivases and Yatrinivases for promoting rail tour and holiday packages. “We also had a meeting with tourism authorities on using state-run hotels for accommodation of IRCTC tourists,” he said.Biswal added that setting up of IRCTC youth hostels in Orissa is also in the pipeline. For the purpose, the IRCTC has sought land  from the State Government at tourist draws like  Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Puri, Gopalpur and Bhitarkanika.