Handing over APTDC hotel to private company opposed

Tirupati: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) at last decided to hand over its budget hotel under construction, near Alipiri, here to a private management.

The construction of the three-star budget hotel was taken up by APTDC on its site located in the area having high commercial and tourism value, opposite to SVRR hospital and near Alipiri, the origin point of both footpath and the ghat roads, to fulfill the long felt demand.

The idea behind APTDC to have its own budget hotel with three star facilities here was keeping in view of the ever growing tourism potential of Tirupati as world famous pilgrim centre and to cater to all sections of tourists visiting the place.

Further, it was also helps showcase the APTDC services to promote tourism in the State, to larger section of people as the hotel is located in a centrally located area where pilgrim movement is high and the general public coming to the reputed hospitals like BIRRD, SVIMS and SVRR government general hospital.

But pouring cold waters on the hopes of the APTDC, the government, as part of its policy, has been vigorously promoting privatisation. Recently, it was decided to hand over the hotel under construction to private management.

What was shocking was the government decision to hand over the three-storey hotel with 107 rooms and other facilities like restaurant, conference hall and a spacious parking place after spending Rs 15 crore on the construction which requires only Rs 10 crore for completion to commence operation.

Sources said the government bowing to pressure had resolved to favour private players in the name of reforms and policy decision, ignoring the potential tourism facility which could be developed as model for promotion of tourism in the State.

Talking to The Hans India here on Tuesday, APTDC divisional manager Suresh Reddy confirmed that decision to hand over the hotel under construction to a private firm.

Tenders inviting bidders for handing over the hotel will be called soon, he said adding that the corporation is handing over the hotel to a private firm following government’s direction and did not say further.

We will hand over the hotel to the highest bidder, who will pay more to the corporation for running the hotel under our logo and will bear both Tourism and the private firm name.

However, a senior official of Tourism department on condition of anonymity said “If not in Tirupati where could the department have its own hotel establishment that could provide employment and also get revenue to the State.

He said the APTDC already operating ten buses under package tour daily to Bengaluru and Chennai cities. “If APTDC has its own hotel there is no need for taking its tourist customers to other hotels, on payment basis, he said adding that having own hotel will pave the path for more package tours boosting tourism and fetching more revenue to the state-run APTDC.

Besides, the hotel will be convenient for the attendants of patients coming for treatment to SVIMS and BIRRD, to have affordable and comfortable stay.

And, also sentimental value as it is near Alipiri, the foot of the holy Tirumala hills. CITU State vice-president K Murali also opposed the government handing over the APTDC hotel to a private firm and ignoring its high potential including employment source and tourism aspect. He urged the government reconsider its decision and allow the hotel run by APTDC.