As a part of its commitment to put the Rs 3500-crore Shamuka tourism project on the fast track, the Orissa government has finally set in motion the re-tendering process for the setting up of star hotels and sea resorts at the project site.
“Tenders have been invited once again for setting up of star hotels and sea resorts at the site of the Shamuka tourism project. The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco) has already readied the approach road for the project at a cost of Rs 7.63 crore”, an official source told Business Standard.
It may be noted that the state government had go for the re-tendering process as the tenders invited earlier in December 2008 had drawn a rather lacklustre response from the investors. Only three hotel chains had participated in the final bidding process held for development of four five star hotels at the project site near Sipasarubali, about 10 km south of Puri.
The state tourism department had engaged global consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to incorporate some new provisions in the bid document for the Shamuka tourism project so as to make it investor friendly. The project is being developed on around 3000 acres of land on the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The status of the showpiece tourism project was reviewed by the state Chief Secretary B K Patnaik.
Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) and city-based S K Das Associates & Architects have been appointed as master planners for this integrated tourism project. The master plan for the project is expected to be prepared soon.