Mascot Hotel and the Bolgatty Palace & Island Resort, two prime properties under the Kerala State Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), are to be renovated and upgraded.
The maintenance of Mascot Hotel, spread over five acres of prime land in the heart of the capital, and that of the Bolgatty palace in the island of Bolgatty off the Marine Drive in Kochi was long overdue.
The annexe block, heritage block, west block, and the restaurant and kitchen at the hotel, in the heritage business category, will be renovated at a cost of Rs.5 crore.
Initially built to accommodate the officers of the Royal British Army during World War I, it was later taken over by the Tourism and Handicraft Development Corporation and eventually handed over to the Department of Tourism.
Under the Rs.5-crore renovation plan of the Bolgatty Palace & Island Resort, the maintenance of the palace, marina, ‘nalukettu’, lake view cottage, and the extension of the restaurant at the palace will be taken up. Curtains and upholstery will be replaced along with the mattresses at the ‘nalukettu’.
An STP is to be set up and uninterrupted power supply will be ensured through a new transformer. Toilets in all blocks of the property will be renovated. Landscaping of the property and electronic door lock and sage locker have also been included in the project.
Built by Dutch traders in 1744, it is the oldest Dutch mansion outside Holland. The exclusive four palatial rooms at the palace provide world class facilities to guests.
Funding
Of the Rs.5 crore each sanctioned for upgrading the properties, official sources said Rs.2.5 crore would be as equity and the balance as term loan.
The KTDC had been asked to complete the works in 12 months.
Though the KTDC had earlier planned to launch the work this month itself, it was rescheduled to next year to avoid inconvenience to the guests during the peak tourist season. The work was likely to be taken up in March next.
