7 months ago
Punjab Leases Out Historic Properties to Revive Tourism
The Punjab tourism department has decided to lease out seven old and famous properties to private companies.
These include a floating restaurant, a historic hotel, and some beautiful gardens and resorts.
The idea is to fix these places up and make them popular again.
Two of these properties, a floating restaurant and a hotel, have already been given to private companies for 15 years.
The companies will pay rent and also spend money to renovate these places.
The department hopes to make these places successful again, just like they did with a royal property in Patiala that was turned into a boutique hotel.
Punjab tourism department has leased out seven prime properties, including the Bougainvillea Floating Restaurant and Hotel Amaltas, to private entities for revival.
The lease contracts for Water Lily Tourist Complex and Chandni Tourist Complex are in the advanced stage, awaiting final approval.
Three other properties, including Darbar Hall, Aam Khas Bagh, and Pinkcassia Tourist Complex, are also planned to be handed over to private entities.
Hotel Amaltas, once a profitable venture, has been shut since 2009 and is now being renovated by M/S Amsons Contractors.
The Bougainvillea Floating Restaurant, an engineering marvel, has been leased out to M/S Amar Food Plaza for revival.
- Who
- Punjab tourism department
- What
- Leased out seven prime properties to private entities
- Where
- Various locations in Punjab, including Sirhind, Ludhiana, Ropar, Sangrur, and Kapurthala
- When
- Current, with some contracts in advanced stage
- Why
- To revive 'dead projects' and generate revenue
Key facts
- Properties Leased
- Bougainvillea Floating Restaurant, Hotel Amaltas, Water Lily Tourist Complex, Chandni Tourist Complex, Darbar Hall, Aam Khas Bagh, Pinkcassia Tourist Complex
- Lease Duration
- 15 years
- Lease Cost
- Rs 3 to 5 lakh per month each
- Annual Revenue
- Rs 60 lakh per year
- Renovation
- Private firms to renovate at their own expense
Quotes
Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari
Director, Punjab tourism
“Also, our ‘Ran-Baas’ project in Patiala, where we converted a royal property in Qila Mubarak Palace into a boutique heritage hotel, has been very successful. So we plan to revive other properties too on same lines by leasing it out to private entities.”
indianexpress.com
“The condition of both properties was quite bad. The private firms will be renovating them at their own expense. They have already started the work on these two properties while five others are in pipeline for approval.”
indianexpress.com