Commonwealth Games countdown: 3 hotels, including Ashok, to play host

New Delhi: With 486 days left for the Commonwealth Games, India Thursday named three hotels that will play host to top VIPs who would be in the national capital.

The three hotels - Hotel Ashok, Samrat and Janpath, all under the India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, a government of India undertaking - would also fill the need for hotel rooms in the capital.

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The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi and the ITDC Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed said a budget of around 300 crore (30 million), including the share of the government and the private sector, will be spent on the renovation of these hotels so that it could roll out the red carpet for international guests.

"A total of 146 crore has been sanctioned for the renovation work and upgradation of Hotel Ashok. Also, we have signed a contract with the Delhi Development Authority to furnish the DDA flats up to the standards of three-star hotels, so that we can give accommodation to guests and players there as well," Ahmad told reporters.

The 12-day Commonwealth Games will be hosted by India for the first time in October 2010, organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

"We have too much to do and so work has to be done day and night," he added.

"Around 10,000 rooms are there and we require 30,000 more rooms," he said, adding that while 3,300 rooms are being arranged by DDA, 6,200 rooms are being arranged in neighbouring Haryana, and 1,800 rooms would be arranged in Uttar Pradesh.

He said the DDA, the housing body in the national capital, is arranging 5,500 rooms in Dwarka and Jasola, there are 11,000 guest houses in the city and 3,000 rooms available through the bed-and-breakfast scheme.

"As we expect a bigger inflow of tourists, air-conditioned tented accommodations could also be arranged. Also, we are talking to educational institutions. We are also talking to defence officials to get their grounds," he added.

Kalmadi said while the Hotel Ashok would be offering 500 rooms, Samrat has 60 rooms and Janpath would be offering 120 rooms.

The three hotels, he said, would host members of the Commonwealth Games associations and other federation members.

Humble hospitality, neat and clean ambiance and good food are all that we will offer our guests of the games, said Parvez Dewan, chairman and managing director of ITDC.

"We are also in the process of building a six-storey spa in Hotel Janpath. A brand new range of restaurants will be opened shortly that will offer the guest a wide range of specialities of cuisines from around the world," added Dewan.
Source: IANS