Rani Mangammal Chathiram guesthouse that remained closed for nearly four years following misuse of the facility in the past was opened on Thursday after its renovation.
Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa inaugurated the guesthouse in the presence of Commissioner R. Nanthagopal. Madurai Corporation renovated it at a cost of Rs.90 lakh.
It has got 24 rooms on the ground floor and first floor. Among them are eight air-conditioned double rooms, four air-conditioned deluxe rooms, six air-conditioned single rooms and six non-air-conditioned single rooms.
All the rooms have been provided with washbasins, showers, geysers and western closets. The flooring on the corridors has been done with granite slabs and the walls given a new look with colourful tiles. The flooring of the rooms has been renovated with new tiles.
During the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, the guesthouse was closed following misuse by politically influential persons. Though the administration claimed that the closure was to enable its renovation, the rooms remained closed with no sign of repair works being carried out. The Commissioner said that soon the guesthouse would be auctioned and allowed to be run by a private contractor.
“With provision of modern facilities, the maintenance could be done in a better way by a private contractor. The Corporation would also get an assured income. Besides, we can avoid unnecessary controversies,” Mr. Nanthagopal said.
A nominal rent would be fixed for the rooms taking into consideration the market rate in the private lodges, he added.
Besides Deputy Mayor R. Gopalakrishnan, City Engineer (in-charge) A. Mathuram, zonal chairpersons, Assistant Commissioners and councillors took part in the inauguration.
