Taj GVK to expand operations

Taj G V K Hotels and Resorts Ltd, a joint venture of the Tata Group's Indian Hotels Company Ltd and Hyderabad-based G V K group, has embarked upon a Rs 315-crore expansion plan to increase its room strength from the existing 550 to 1,000 in Hyderabad by 2009-10.

The company is setting up a 200-room business hotel at Begumpet at a cost of Rs 70 crore besides upgrading and expanding the capacities at Taj Deccan and Taj Krishna in Banjara Hills.

According to Taj G V K director operations, Veer Vijay Singh, the upgradation of Taj Deccan will be continued with the addition of 23 rooms, a restobar and top-end retail shops at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Another block of rooms with banquet facilities is also proposed to be added to the hotel at a cost of about Rs 75 crore.

At Taj Krishna, a 17,000-square feet of retail space is being created in addition to establishment of service apartment and a new parking facility at a cost of Rs 150 crore. This will be completed in a year's span.

Following this, Singh said, a bridge would be constructed across the road between Taj Krishna and Taj Deccan connecting the two hotels.

Presently, Taj G V K Hotels has three hotels in Hyderabad. Outside Hyderabad, it has one hotel in Chandigarh and is constructing a five-star hotel in Chennai at cost of Rs 140 crore.