NRI Plans Mega Hotel Projects in Punjab

January 7, 2008	(Be the first to rate this story!)  Loading ...
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US based NRI, Sant Singh Chatwal, a close ally of the Clinton family, plans to convert the historic Gobindgarh fort at Amritsar into a seven-star hotel.

Speaking on his plans to convert the Gobindgarh fort into a 7-star hotel which will also have a museum, Chatwal said that the amount of non-resident Indians as well as foreigners vising Amritsar is massive because of the Golden Temple but unfortunately the city still does not has a world class hotel.

Chatwal has already discussed the subject with Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and claims that he was quite positive about it. However, a formal descision is yet to come on the proposal. Apart from the Gobindgarh fort, Chatwal’s Hampshire Hotels & Resorts is looking at other projects too in the state, for which it has set aside Rs 1,500-2,000 crore. This includes a business hotel in Ludhiana, Punjab’s leading industrial township, and another seven-star hotel in Mohali, close to Chandigarh.

“Many airlines are expected to start operations after the completion of the new domestic and international terminals in Mohali. I believe there will be a huge demand for hotel rooms,” he added. However, Chatwal sounded a note of caution: “We are very time bound and will invest in Punjab only if the state government responds quickly.”

Chatwal is all set to invest Rs 5,000 crore in India. At present, his company is coming up with eight hotels in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The first of these properties, in Hyderabad, will be launched on January 10.

Chatwal’s Hampshire Hotels & Resorts currently owns and manages 10 hotels in New York, two in Montreal, one each in London and Bangkok.

News Published Under:   Non Resident Indian (NRI) |

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