In a bid to boost tourism, Orissa Govt is trying to rope in private sector in a big way to develop hospitality infrastructure by developing accommodation in 35 strategic tourist locations in public private participation [PPP] mode.
The Department of Tourism (DoT) operates several accommodation units like Panthasala, Tourism Complex, and Wayside Amenities Center at several locations across the state. It now proposes to upgrade facilities, promote tourism and unlock the commercial value of these properties by leasing these properties on upgrade, develop, maintain, manage, share and transfer basis for thirty years on PPP mode as per a report in ET by Nageshwar Patnaik.
The state government has invited tenders from interested parties for upgradation of tourist accommodations and WACs at Paralekhamundi, Atri, Gupteswar, Bargarh, Kendrapara, Kantilo, Deulajhari, Khiching, Saranakul, Odagaon, Gorakhanatha Pitha, Mahavinayak, Talachua, Nrusighanath, Harisankar, Ranipur Jharial, Harisankar, Sohela, Bangiriposi, Ratnagiri, Udaygiri, Kapilas, Daringibadi, Dhabaleswar, Patharajpur, Lalitgiri, Sunabeda, Rameswar, Jajpur, Ramachandi (Kendrapara), Aradi, Kendrapara, Taratarini, Bari, Khandadhara, Belghar, Dhamnagar and Binika. In many places two properties are found in one location and those have been clubbed as one package, an official in charge of the bidding process said here.
The tourism department has proposed to lease these tourism accommodation units on an "as-is" basis. There is no cap on the number of projects that can be bid for by the bidders. A bidder bidding for multiple projects can submit a single proposal as per the prescribed format. The Financial Bids, however, need to be submitted separately for each Project along with the Proposal.
Depending on the bidding offers, the department will grant the selected bidder the Lease for the respective Tourism Accommodation Unit for a specified time period. At the end of the lease period, all the Project Facilities including all developments carried out by the Lessee and the assets provided by DOT shall revert back to DOT, free of cost and free of all encumbrances.