The State cabinet today amended few conditions and cleared the conversion of Minto Hall, which housed state Assembly for years, into a convention-cum-trade centre. The state government will lease out Minto Hall and adjacent 6.73 acre land to a private partner for a period of 60 years on lease. Besides this land the private partner will have to develop an exhibition hall and an open cafeteria on a land area of 1.20 acre. Earlier department of home affairs had raised some objections to the project as it is close proximity of governor house.
A star category hotel of 200 rooms, retailing area of one lakh square feet, office complex on three lakh sq feet, serviced apartments and other similar facilities will be created on another chunk of land on area of 7.11 acres of land.
Speaking to Business Standard, Satya Prakash, additional chief secretary, department of industries said, “The bidders who have qualified for RFP documents will be short listed on basis of their bidding price.”
Jaypee Associates, Ramkay Infrastructure Limited, Hyderabad based Soma Developers Pvt Ltd and Palm Grove Hotels, have qualified the RFQ (request for qualifying) stage and now they are likely to be invited for financial offer, a government spokesperson said.
The state cabinet has put Rs 85.32 crore base price for 7.11 acre land to be used for commercial purpose. “The private partner will be selected on the basis of his offer which he will pay for 60 years in addition to the price of the land, “Satya Prakash added.
The cabinet has calculated price of the land at Rs 12 crore per acre and the successful private partner will have to pay the amount of Rs 85.32 crore in 14 years at 8.5 per cent interest rates. He will also have an option to pay the amount in lump-sum.
Nawab Sultanjahan Begum (ruler of Bhopal) started construction of the Minto Hall with an investment of Rs 3 lakh in the year 1909 as a guest house near the Raj Bhawan. It was then called the Lal kothi.
In 2005, Central government had decided to establish an International Convention Centre hub through its own agency ITPO in association with state government but later state government dropped ITPO and appointed its entity MP Laghu Udyog Nigam as nodal agency. Further state government disassociated itself with Central government for the project and roped in IL & FS Development Corporation as consultant.
However government spokesperson and cabinet colleague of state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan remained silent when asked if the Minto Hall will be restored in its original form as it was in 1932. The height of the hotel to be constructed in area has been capped at 40 feet – the existing height of the property.
Another government building and aquarium is also under the plan either to be spruced up or to be converted into oceanarium. But the building of the aquarium cannot be altered demolished or spruced up for commercial use.
The private partner will be allotted land for a lease period of 60 years subjected for extension of a period of another 30 years.
Renowned architect of British era AC Rovan had supervised the construction of the Minto hall for 24 years. The Minto Hall then converted into a college named as Hamidia College in 1946 which later moved to its own building. After independence the Minto Hall became state assembly building. Later in 1996 the assembly had moved to a new building since then Minto hall has been lying unused.
