Government gives nod to establishment of three star hotels in Patna

PATNA: The state cabinet has approved a proposal of the tourism department regarding establishment of a seven-star and two five-star hotels in the city. The tourism department officials, however, said the projects would be executed only after the conclusion of Lok Sabha election.
At its meeting held on Monday, the state cabinet approved a proposal regarding conversion of Hotel Patliputra Ashok and Sultan Palace into star hotels besides establishing a similar hotel on the premises of Bankipore bus stand. The cabinet also approved development of resorts and retail outlets in the state under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.

Sources at Bihar State Tourism Development and Corporation (BSTDC) said Hotel Patliputra Ashok near the Income-Tax roundabout would be developed into a seven-star hotel. Sultan Palace, which is currently under the control of the transport department, will be developed into a five-star heritage hotel. Another five-star hotel will be built on Bankipur bus stand premises.

The Union cabinet has already approved transfer of Hotel Patliputra Ashok to the state government on payment of Rs 13 crore. The three-star hotel was being run by India Tourism Development Corporation.

The state government has also agreed to transfer Sultan Palace, the headquarters of transport department, to the tourism department so that it can be converted into a five-star hotel. Bankipore bus stand, on the other hand, is mostly used for halt of inter-district buses.

Senior officials said the process of land acquisition, bidding and sanction of funds for development of start hotels would take few more months. “The state government has decided to build world-class hotels on its land in prominent localities of the city to attract domestic tourists,” a tourism department official said.

Several prominent locations in Gaya and Rajgir have also been earmarked by the tourism department for development of world-class hotels.