Vijayawada: Around half-a-dozen plush properties spread across the state belonging to state-run Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) are all set to fall into the hands of private players.
APTDC had poured hundreds of crores of rupees into developing these properties, most of them beach destinations. APTDC invited bids calling private operators to operate and maintain these properties for a period of 33 years.
The successful bidder will be given the leeway to fix the room tariff without any cap or control.
In a first instalment, beach resorts at Baruva in Srikakulam district, Sagar Nagar, Endada in Vizag district, hotel property in Nelapattu which has a bird sanctuary in Nellore district, will start proceedings.
APTDC had developed properties across the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh and also has plans to improve them, besides developing at least 20 new properties.
The bid document issued by the APTDC recently, stated: "Subject to the provisions of this agreement, the operator shall during operations period be entitled to levy, demand and collect fee or tariff in accordance with the industry norms and practices for the use of rooms as well as allied facilities at the project for the duration of the service period. Authority (APTDC) will not be involved in the determination of such fee or tariff that the operator will charge. The operator is entitled to revise the fee from time to time and such revisions can be either upward or downward depending on the situation".
As demand for branded rooms has been growing manifold in the state, the APTDC had decided to hand over the properties to private players for better maintenance.
This comes amidst frequent complaints about the poor maintenance of these properties by the APTDC staff.
