Guwahati: The Mizoram government has signed a concession agreement with Shillong-based Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. for the development, operation and maintenance of a four-star or higher category hotel at the state-owned Tourist Lodge in Chaltlang, Aizawl, under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, officials said on Tuesday.
The project, titled “Development of 4-Star or Higher Category Hotel at Tourist Lodge, Chaltlang, Aizawl, Mizoram on Design, Build, Finance, Maintain, Operate, Manage and Transfer (DBFMOMT) Basis,” aims to strengthen the state’s hospitality infrastructure and boost tourism by replacing the existing tourist lodge with a modern premium hotel.
According to officials, the initiative was conceptualised by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in collaboration with the Mizoram government’s Planning and Programme Implementation Department.
To attract private investment for the project, the state government organised an investment roadshow in Kolkata on February 19, 2024, promoting the redevelopment of the property through the PPP model. Invest India, under the Ministry of DoNER, played a key role in facilitating the initiative.
The concession agreement was signed at the Chief Minister’s Office by Tourism Secretary Vanlaldina Fanai on behalf of the Mizoram government and Prashant Gupta, Chief Financial Officer and Whole-time Director of Hotel Polo Towers Ltd., representing the company.
Under the agreement, Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. will design, build, finance, operate, manage and maintain the hotel for an initial concession period of 30 years, with provisions for two additional extensions of 10 years each.
The proposed hotel will have at least 60 guest rooms, with the flexibility to expand by another 40 rooms in the future. The property will also feature a 24-hour multi-cuisine coffee shop, a specialty restaurant, lounge, executive health club, gymnasium and spa facilities.
Officials said the hotel is being developed to meet standards that would allow it to be upgraded to a five-star property in the future, further enhancing Mizoram‘s tourism infrastructure.
The Mizoram government will hand over the project site to the company within 45 days of signing the agreement.
Officials clarified that while Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. will have the concession rights to develop and operate the hotel, ownership of the land will remain with the Mizoram government throughout the concession period.