Videocon to enter hotel, hydropower sectors

"We are interested in the hydro-power and hotel sectors and are ready to invest in Uttarakhand," said Dhoot on the sidelines of an Assocham meeting here.

Dhoot, who is also president of Assocham, said his company officials were in talks with the Uttarakhand government in these two sectors. Significantly, Videocon has already invested Rs 400 crore in its manufacturing plant for electronic goods in Kashipur town of the Kumaon region in the state.

Dhoot added that in the hotel sector Videocon, with a turnover of Rs 20,000 crore, was ready to invest Rs 600 crore in the state. Building a five-star hotel and a Dehra Dun-Mussoorie ropeway are the immediate proposals of the company.

Besides this, Videocon is also interested in acquiring a heritage building in the hill resort of Mussoorie.

The company was eyeing land for constructing a five- or seven-star hotel on the foothills of Mussoorie, said a company official accompanying Dhoot. An amusement park is also on the cards near the proposed hotel.

As far as hydro-power is concerned, Videocon is expecting to produce nearly 2,000 Mw in the first phase. Company officials have held talks with top state government authorities. The have also talked to Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) on selling power.

Videocon has recently come up with a proposal to set up a thermal power plant in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Besides this, Videocon has bagged telecom licence for 22 circles in India.