Finally, a five - star hotel in Assam

For Infosys co founder N.R.Narayana Murthy, a city is fit for big business if it has good five star hotel. And he said this categorically in Dispur during his visit to the state last year.
Assam – and the Northeast – is all set to get the first five star hotel which will hopefully help the region clinch some meaty deals.
A joint venture agreement was signed today between the Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group and the Guwahati Guwahai Munieipal Development Authority (GMDA) at the residence of Assam chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
The agreement was signed by the director of DS Group. P.K.Gupta and A.R.Bhutani, secretary of GDD.
The director of DS group, R.K.Gupta, was also present on the occasion. According to the memorandum of agreement, the DS group will invest Rs. 100 crore and develop the hotel on a 27 bigha plot at Gotanagar along National Highway 37.
The construction will begin within a month and is expected to be ready in the next 24 months. “It is a historic moment and a five star hotel was a long felt need.” Gogol after the signing of the agreement.
The Guwahai Municipal Development Authority (GMDA) had last year called an expression of Interest for setting up a five star hotel in the city. Though the Joint venture is between GMDA and the DS group, it was signed by GDD secretary as the GMDA chief executive officer N.M. Hussain has been transferred as Sivasagar deputy commissioner.
Officials hope that with a five-star hotel to boast of, the city will finally become the preferred choice for IT investors.
Among the immediate benefits, the GMDA will get Rs. 25 lakh per annum as fixed amount with escalation of 15 percent after five years. The government will get Rs. 84 lakh per annum as dividend from the equity stake of 7.47 percent in the venture.
The hotel will be operated by the Carlsson Hotel Asia Pacific group with which the DS Group has signed a management agreement. It will have 200 rooms with all the amenities required for business travelers. A multi cuisine restaurant, a coffee shop, a bar, a meeting room and a large convention center that can accommodate about 500 people will be part of the bouquet. There will also be a health club, a wellness center, a swimming pool and a shopping arcade. Welcome back to the region, Narayana Murthy.