Joy Roy Choudhury – Kolkata
Shillong based Hotel Polo Towers Group has launched Hotel Polo Max and Food Court in Allahabad railway station compound. The group has entered into a PPP with Ircon Infrastructure & Services (IrconISL) under ministry of railways, GoI to set up the hotel in Allahabad. IrconISL is developing Multi-Functional Complexes (MFCs) in identified stations for providing rail users facilities like shopping, book-shops, medicine, variety stores, food plazas, budget hotels, underground parking facilities, etc.
Out of the 50 identified stations for the development of MFCs, the Railway Board has proposed to take up work at 24 railway station premises in phases serving places of pilgrimage, industry and tourist interest through IrconISL and Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). Land on long term lease basis is arranged by RLDA.
The Allahabad hotel was recently inaugurated by Suresh Prabhu, Union railway minister. “Our commitment is to create world-class hospitality and dining facilities for the people,” said Deval Tibrewalla, CEO & Director, Hotel Polo Towers Group. Apart from the hotel facilities, the complex features a food court. The highlights of the food court include large screens for sporting events, a variety of cuisines from all over the world, and music. Polo Food Court Allahabad will soon feature real-time train information for the convenience of travellers.
The group currently owns hotels and resorts in Shillong, Cherrapunjee and Tura in Meghalaya. Commenting on the group’s immediate future plans, Tibrewalla said, “We aim to launch 50 such properties. The next is similar kind of a project within the Jabalpur railway station compound in Madhya Pradesh, which will be launched shortly.”
The chain will soon introduce app based check-in using near field communications thereby making the room key redundant for its guests. Additions such as room service ordering through the app and settling of bills on the mobile phone are in the pipeline.
