CM Jagan to lay foundation stone for Oberoi Hotel today

VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the construction of the Oberoi Group of Hotels in the city on Sunday, virtually from Gandikota. The construction will take place on a 42-acre area belonging to the Department of Tourism in the Annavaram coastal area under Bheemili mandal, a kilometre away from the proposed greenfield Bhogapuram International Airport.

This project is a result of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Oberoi Group and the state government at the Global Investors Summit held in Visakhapatnam earlier in the first week of March this year. The project, which is estimated to cost Rs 350 crore, will be a 7-star luxury resort.

In preparation for the virtual foundation stone laying ceremony, collector Dr Mallikarjuna reviewed the arrangements in Annavaram, and tourism regional director Srinivas Pani inspected the space allotted to the Oberoi Group in Annavaram.

In addition to Annavaram, the Oberoi Group is also developing hotels in Horsley Hills, Pichika Lanka, Tirupati, and Gandikota.

According to officials, as the hotel would be located on the beach, many international tourists are expected to visit the coastal area. Top entertainment centres like the Skytower, giant wheel, and seaplane facilities are also proposed close to the hotel.

“This is the first step to making Vizag an international tourist centre,” tour operator Moula Ali said.