Patna: (ABN) In a historic step in the tourism and hospitality sector in the state, the Department of Tourism/Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Limited (BSTDC) inaugurated Sarga Hotel Private Limited in the presence of Tourism Minister Mr. Arun Shankar Prasad. An agreement was signed with ICICI Bank to run a 5-star luxury Taj Hotel on the land of Bankipore Bus Stand. The agreement was signed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to the agreement, the five-star Taj Hotel will be built by The Indian Hotel Group.

On this occasion, the Hon'ble Minister said in his presidential address that the people of the state have high hopes that tourists and traders will not face any kind of inconvenience in getting better accommodation here. A city like Patna needs five-star hotels, keeping this in mind, the government is going to build three five-star hotels in the capital. The construction of one five-star hotel has started in Patna, the MoU for the second has been signed, the formal proceedings for the third have been completed today, and now the construction of the Taj Hotel will be completed within the stipulated time. Many facilities are being built near tourist places in the state, new circuits are being created. Just as many tourists come to Bodh Gaya and Rajgir, in the coming days, people will come to Sitamarhi to see Janki Temple.

On this occasion, while giving information, Mr. Nand Kishore, Managing Director of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Limited, said that the plot of Bankipore Bus Stand has been transferred by the Department of Transport, Bihar to the Department of Tourism/Bihar State Tourism Development Company Limited so that tourists can be provided with modern accommodation and other tourist facilities. It has been decided to provide modern facilities to tourists in Patna. The state government will build a five-star hotel. The said plot is as per the provisions mentioned in the Infrastructure Development Enabling Amendment Act 2023. After that, Sarga Hotel Private Limited was selected as a technically successful bidder, which has paid an annual license premium of Rs 18.60 crore, in addition to GST. A 500-room Taj Hotel will be built on the said land. The proposed five-star hotel will have 350 rooms in the first phase and 150 rooms in the second phase. The selected agency will ensure that the first phase of construction is completed within 4 years and the Taj Five Star Hotel starts by January 2030.

The location of Bankipore is very suitable for the construction of a five-star hotel as it has the Ganges River on one side and Gandhi Maidan in front. Its importance increases even more due to its proximity to the Samrat Ashok Convention Center.

Mr. K. Mohan Chandran, Senior Vice President of Taj Hotel, said that the Taj Hotel being built in Bankipore, Patna will be one of the best additions to the Taj Hotels operating across India. While Nitya Nand Sonthalia, Director of Sarga Yutel Private Limited, said that a great five-star hotel will be built for the people of Patna within the stipulated time. On this occasion, Mr. Rajesh Roshan, Joint Director, Directorate of Tourism, Mr. Chandan Chauhan, General Manager, Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Limited, and all departmental officers and employees were present.