After 32 years, Shillong’s Crowborough Hotel likely to be completed by Sept 2020

Shillong, Dec 04:

After three decades, the much delayed Crowborough Hotel project in Shillong, which has turned into a white elephant, is likely to be completed by September, 2020.

 "The Crowborough Hotel will be handed over to the Government by the firm on September next year. Once it's made operational, it will be one of the important assets of the Government. It will also be one of the best hotels in the State,"  Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) chairman, Sanbor Shullai told reporters after submitting the report to Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on the activities taken up by the corporation in the past two and half years here today.

According to him, the lessee has entered into an agreement with Aura Hotels and Resorts Private Limited who have been granted a loan of Rs 45 crore by the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for completion of the project.

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"The project has shown good progress. On operation, the MTDC will receive lease rental of over Rs 1.73 crore per annum," Shulla said.

According to him, the major work components has already been completed adding that only the minor work are left which include the construction of the parking lot inside the hotel premises which will require the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Public Works Department (PWD).

He further said that the Government is expected huge revenue from the Crowborough Hotel even as huge job opportunities will be created for the local youths of the State.

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It may be mentioned that Hotel Crowborough has partnered with France-based Accor hotel groups and Novotel the international acclaimed hotel brand from Accor group. This the first time that the hotel franchisee from France will make its debut in the capital city. The hotel has the capacity to provide jobs to 150 people as informed by the project in charge.

The project was proposed on a PPP mode using the Build, Operate, Lease, Transfer model. The work on the project began in 10 March 1987. The work was delayed as the building permission had to be sought dated back to the 80s and work again resumed in the 2000s. The Crowborugh Hotel, when completed will have nine floors with 8 economy rooms, 58 standard rooms, 30 deluxe rooms, 5 suites, one banquet hall, one coffee shop besides parking lot.