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With a view to take stock of the various arrangements related to the augmentation of hotel accommodation coming up for the Commonwealth Games, Delhi, 2010 in the National Capital Region of Delhi, a high level meeting of the Task Force was held under the chairmanship of Secretary Tourism, Sujit Banerjee in New Delhi recently.
Mr Banerjee reviewed all the new hotel projects coming up for the CWG-2010 along with the licensed Guest Houses, Bed & Breakfast establishments, DDA Housing flats located at Vasant Kunj which would be operated by ITDC. The review of the Task Force indicated that there are 11,793 definite rooms showing an increase of 812 rooms since the previous review in which 8,659 rooms have been completed of the overall 11,793 definite rooms.
The performance of Haryana has been consistent with nearly 93% of the definite 7,221 rooms have been completed. The review indicated commendable performance by Uttar Pradesh since the last meeting of the Task Force held in April 2010. There are 377 functional rooms and 609 definite rooms showing an increase of 71 rooms and 303 rooms respectively in Noida. In respect of Greater Noida, the definite rooms have shown an increase by 408 rooms and thus 569 rooms have now been placed in the definite category. As regards Ghaziabad, there would be 672 functional rooms and the definite category now stands at 1,363 rooms showing an increase of 295 rooms.
The Secretary stressed on the need to ensure the timely completion of the remaining 3,134 definite rooms by DDA, Haryana and other land owning agencies and desired that all efforts may be made to complete the maximum of likely rooms into a definite category. It was requested that all the land owning agencies should also take up the upgradation and beautification of the surrounding areas and approach roads to the new hotel projects which are coming up. It was again emphasized that setting-up of a Single Window System for the grant of various clearances to the hotels would be a positive step in this direction.
It was also informed that the issue of clearances was critical for the hotels, as the benefits announced by the Government of the 5 year Tax Holiday would be available to 2, 3 and 4 star category hotels under sections 80-ID of the Income Tax Act, only if they started operation by July 31, 2010. The upgradation of the DDA Flats located at Vasant Kunj was also reviewed. It was stressed that DDA may strictly adhere to the completion plans so that they can be handed over to ITDC for furnishing as this process should be completed by August 31, 2010.
It is estimated that around 11,028 rooms would be available from the licensed Guest Houses in the NCT of Delhi. The Ministry of Tourism is providing skill development training to the owners and the staff of these identified licensed Guest Houses through the IHM, Pusa.
Secretary (Tourism) also reviewed the beautification / upgradation of the surrounding areas in Karol Bagh and Pahar Ganj and MCD was directed to complete all the works, identified major and internal roads, urinal blocks, rotaries, parks and signage etc. He advised that these works may be reviewed on a more regular basis to ensure that these are completed by June 30, 2010.
As regards the ‘Bed & Breakfast’ establishments, it was informed that presently there are total of 2,007 rooms in the NCR of Delhi (1,230 rooms in Delhi and 777 rooms in the Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad). Secretary (Tourism) directed that the list of the entire B&B establishment should be updated on the official website of the Games Travel Office for wider publicity.