Also proposed for Cabinet approval is 120-room starred hotel
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THE GOAN SPECIAL
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ABOUT THE PROJECT
* Expected to come up on existing GTDC property and an adjacent property owned by the Department of Tourism
* The properties will be leased to GTDC for 65 years at a rental to be determined by Public Works Department
* The two properties will be amalgamated to allow for the development of the ‘landmark’ project
* The 120-room starred hotel will have a fitness centre, rooftop swimming pool and deck, spa, gymnasium, etc
* 35-50 floating docks will form the Yacht Owners’ Club with facilities for washing, refuelling, repairs, etc
* On expiry of the concession period, the concessionaire will have to transfer all the assets to the GTDC
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Britona will soon be home to Yacht Owners' Club and Jetty with a capacity of 35-50 boats along with a 120 room starred hotel.
The GTDC has, through a bidding process selected M/s Ecotec Developers, as a concessionaire for the development and operation of Britona Residency for a period of 30 years extendable to a further period of 30 years.
M/s Ecotec Developers won the bid by promising an concession fee of ₹10.10 crore while also assuring 5% of the operating profits to the GTDC.
“The proposal will now be put forth before the cabinet for its approval,” a GTDC official said.
Ecotec Developers is expected to invest in the place and run it on land leased to them by the GTDC.
The project is expected to come up on a stretch of land at Britona consisting of the existing GTDC property measuring nearly 20,000 square metres and an adjacent property owned by the Department of Tourism of nearly 15,000 square metres, which will be leased to the GTDC for 65 years at a rental to be determined by the Public Works Department.
The two properties will be amalgamated to allow for the development of the ‘landmark’ project in the form of a 120 room starred hotel along with a fitness centre, rooftop swimming pool and deck, a spa and gymnasium, restaurants and bars, coffee shops, etc.
Crucially, while the government has refrained from using the word ‘marina’ the project also envisages setting up of a Yacht Owners’ Club and ‘jetty’ with 35-50 floating docks or berths with facilities for washing, refuelling, a repairs and service yard and mooring facilities.
On expiry of the concession period, the concessionaire will have to transfer all the assets to the GTDC in a workable condition. The High Powered Monitoring Committee had earlier in January 2015 approved the transfer of the Department of Tourism Property to the GTDC. The property is currently used for residential quarters by the Department of Tourism Staff which will have to be relocated.
The GTDC part of the property contains dormitory type lodgings often used by either students or low end tourists as a means of cheap accommodation with the target clientele including groups, clubs, college and school students.
However, with the GTDC and the Tourism Department striving to as a destination for high end tourists, the GTDC thought of changing its plans. Besides, the dormitories have been incurring heavy losses as the maintenance exceeded the cost. Over the last eight years, the property consistently incurred losses with the losses peaking at ₹30.72 lakh in 2014-15 when the income was ₹6-lakh and expenditure was 36.72 lakh.
The minor tussle did occur between the GTDC and the finance Department. While the GTDC Board was of the opinion that the GTDC didn’t need to seek transfer of the land from the Tourism Department and an approval of the cabinet was sufficient, the finance department disagreed pointing to the Rules of Business of the Government of Goa which mandates that any proposal involving grant of land shall be taken with the prior approval and concurrence of the Finance Department. It was the Finance Department which prevailed.
