Planning to visit Vijayawada between October 21 and 23? Hotels rooms have already been blocked for three days, thanks to VVIPs streaming in for the foundation stone laying ceremony for Amaravati on October 22.
As the government is planning to conduct the ceremony on a grand scale by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and dignitaries from foreign countries, the official machinery in Vijayawada and Guntur is leaving no stone unturned to make the event a grand success.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has invited Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for the event. Right from conveyance to accommodation and food, the authorities are planning to extend the finest hospitality to the dignitaries.
On their part, hoteliers in Vijayawada will ensure a comfortable stay for the invitees. For the record, ahead Mr. Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony on June 8, more than 25 hotels in the city had reserved more than 200 premium rooms for VVIPs.
“As of now, we have not received any list on the number of VIPs participating in the event. But, we have advised our clients not to visit the city from October 21 to 23, as we can’t make rooms available to them,” said Ilapuram Raja, president of Vijayawada Hotel Owners’ Association (VHOA). At present, the occupancy ratio is hovering between 80 and 90 per cent in most hotels.
There are over 110 hotels in the city, including three and four-star hotels, which are members of the VHOA. In addition, there are more than 60 hotels and lodges catering to the needs of those visiting Vijayawada. “From our side, we want to contribute to the event and make arrangements for the VIPs,” said Taj Gateway Hotel CMD Mallineni Rajaiah.
Another hotelier said police had already asked them to set apart at least 20 per cent of rooms for police officers who would be supervising security arrangements one week before the event. Meanwhile, a senior government official said the services of private guest houses and lodges would be utilised.
