5-star hotel planned in old Ahmedabad

Eastern Ahmedabad may soon have an eight-storied five-star hotel. The project, proposed by a local developer, at an investment of Rs 150 crore, is being planned on the eastern end of Eliis Bridge.

The proposed 200-room hotel would come on the land, which once housed workers' quarters of Ahmedabad's very first composite textile mill, Bechardas Spinning and Weaving Mills Co Ltd. The mill was later renamed as Prasad Mills Co Ltd.

The site is located behind the Lokmanya Tilak garden, popularly known as the Victoria garden, and faces river Sabarmati.

It is spread over 8,843 square yard and is part of the total 42,733 sq yd area on which the mill was set up in 1865 by Bechardas Lashkari.

"Many of the world's leading hotel chains have evinced interest in the project including three or four US- based hospitality majors. We are in talks with a key person who will be the mediator between us and the hotel chains. We would be meeting on December 18 to discuss more on this issue," says Vipul Lashkari, the sixth generation descendant of Bechardas Lashkari, and the brain behind the project.

Lashkari, however, refused to reveal the names saying, "It may be too premature to mention the names."

The permitted floor space index (FSI) in the area at present is 1.8. This may be relaxed as the authorities are contemplating allowing FSI up to 3.6 for taller buildings in the upcoming Sabarmati Riverfront project.

However, at the moment Lashkari is focusing all his attention on getting back the possession of the land as the land in question has been in a legal dispute since 1989.

"The Lashkari family sold its controlling stakes in the company to Bhagwatprasad R Patel in 1971 and the mill was renamed Prasad Mills. It was declared sick in 1984 and in 1989 the Gujarat High Court liquidated the mill. However, some dues of the labourers are yet to be settled and we are in a legal dispute with State Bank of India and the Textiles Labourers' Association. The land is still on Lashkari family's name," he said.

Lashkari is hopeful that the entire dispute would be settled within seven-eight month.

"We are reaching a mutual compromise with labourers. The Lashkari family is ready to pay the dues to sort out the matter amicably," he said.