Ooty: Unused HPF quarters now good game for holiday infra

OOTY: The Ooty Town Public Awareness Association (OTPAA) is calling for action to convert the closed staff quarters of the defunct Hindustan Photo Films Manufacturing Company (HPF) here, into tourist cottages to make them economy class or budget class lodges/resorts to help the tourists from middle class segment to enjoy their stay in Ooty.

S. Janardhanan, president of the OTPAA, said that so many suggestions from various sectors of people have poured over the year on how to utilise the infrastructures of the defunct HPF.    But, the near 300 staff quarters there, which are now closed and facing dilapidation due to non-maintenance, can be converted into budget/economy class tourist cottages to suit the aspirations of the economy class tourists visiting the hills.

“The concept of home stay/tourist cottage/resort has become the new era attraction as tourists visiting the hills are now looking for such a type of cottages for stay.  The HPF staff quarters with even kitchen facilities would be highly suitable for home-stay concept.  The centre, instead of keeping the quarters as such, should convert them into lodges/tourist cottages or the state government should take them on lease basis to convert them into a lodging hub.  Fixing a minimum fare for stay there will minimize the burden on lodging fare for the tourists.  The women self-help groups or the unemployed youth shall be given a chance to run these tourist cottages to help them earn a good livelihood” he suggested.