Privatisation of TCGL to start soon

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL), a public sector company of the state government, is finally opening its doors for privatisation of its property spread across the state.

There are 18 hotels and five cafeterias in the state belonging to TCGL under the brand name 'Toran.' The process of privatisation is expected to start this week.

According to a highly-placed TCGL official, the government had been busy giving final touches to TCGL's privatisation plan, which was incurring losses in its hospitality business for more than six years.

The official said that the decision to privatise the corporation property was taken during 2006.

"Ever since the government's decision was announced, the corporation has been receiving many offers from private players to acquire its properties. These players will soon get a chance to bid officially," the official added.

He, however, refused to reveal the names of the private hospitality players who had put up their offers earlier.

The official said that a high-level committee constituted under Manjula Subramaniam, principal secretary to the finance department, had evaluated the properties and the properties would be sold to the bidders whose quoted prices are closest to the evaluated prices. The bids to sell off these properties will be opened for private players in a phased manner.

The properties of TCGL that will go under the hammer include Toran Resort at Sputter, Hotel Sumeru at Palitana, among others.

Palace Beach Resort at Chorwad, the Ubhrat Holiday Camp and Nargol Beach Resort at Valsad, Dakor Yatri Niwas in Kheda, Ankleshwar Motel, the Sasan Gir Forest Lodge in Junagadh district and Ahmedpur-Mandvi Beach Resort and five Toran cafeterias.