International convention centre: INCAP opens bids

Visakhapatnam: The Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP) has shortlisted some companies in the technical bid it had opened for developing a world-class international convention centre in Vizag on the lines of Hitex at Hyderabad.

INCAP had issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) and Expression of Interest (EoI) for developing the convention centre at Madhurawada over a plot of 53 acres last year. The corporation will now ask the shortlisted companies to submit their financial bids.

The bidder which offers the highest revenue share to the government will be given the offer to develop the convention centre. “INCAP floated EoI and response and the technical bid opened. As of now, Novotel, Vijaya Nirman Company, Gitam and others have shown interest  n the project. The master plan, the approach road and land use conversion by Vuda are in process. Po-wer supply by EPDCL is being facilitated, as also water supply, by GVMC,” said a senior official when asked about the status of the convention centre project.

Gulf-based Lulu Group had requested for land in the core city area and also shown interest in the Hanumanthwaka land reserved for the Metro Rail. The district administration has written to the principal secretary to Tourism to convene a meeting to discuss its feasibility visavis integration of the Metro and Lulu Group projects.

In order to promote growth of the hospitality sector and facilitate the aim of Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE) under tourism industry and give an impetus to the local economy, the state plans to develop a Convention Centre in the city.

The only major convention facility of international standard is at Hotel Novotel with a maximum capacity of 1,200 pax and performance above average at 70 per cent occupancy.

The local market relies heavily on social events category accounting for 60 per cent of total occupancy across available facilities. Corporate events co-me in second at 25 per cent, followed by associati-on-sponsored and conducted events constituting 15 per cent of the total occupancy.

Though the Request for Proposal was issued in September last year, and bid submission date fixed for October 2015, it was extended to March 15 this year.