The high season room crunch in Kolkata will ease in 18-24 months with the addition of over 2,500 rooms. At lease seven hotels that are under construction will become operational by 2014 with Taj Gateway the first to open its door in early 2012. It will be followed by Westin, Courtyard by Marriot, The Lalit (Great Eastern), Novotel, ITC Luxury Collection, two Sarovar hotels and JW Marriot.

That is a major turnaround from the scenario a couple of years ago when most hospital projects were grounded following the liquidity crunch in 2008. With the economy and the stock market rebounding a year later, some of the projects were back on track as per a report in TOI by Subhro Niyogi

With the new year round the corner, work on some projects have picked up pace and are progressing at a fast clip. Taj Gateway, a 200-room business hotel, is nearing completion. "The hotel will be operational in the first quarter of 2012-13," said a company source.

The 200-room Lalit, the reconstructed heritage hotel Great Eastern, is expected to become operational thereafter. While the heritage frontage and rear sections will house premium rooms, the modern building constructed between the two blocks will house bulk of rooms, banquets and restaurants.

Four hotels in New Town: 200-room Novotel, 323-room Westin, 250-room Courtyard by Marriott and 150-key Best Western adjoining Swissotel are next in line. All of them are expected to become operational in 2013.

"We expect the hotel to become operational by December 2012. Though construction is scheduled to end around September next year, staff training will begin in advance at an alternative location to ensure quick commissioning," said Jain Group vice-chairman Shrayans Jain that is building the Westin hotel.

The twin tower Bionic structure by Srishti group will house a hotel and service apartments. Both facilities will be managed by Westin.

In 2014, the focus will shift to EM Bypass where construction of the 500-room ITC Luxury Collection is underway. Though ITC is mum on when the hotel that promises to take luxury to a new level will open its doors to the guests. But the towering 30-storey property is sure to go operational in 2014.

Close on the heels will be two other hotels of the Sarovar group at the airport.

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