Taj Group to double its room capacity

Mumbai, June 12: Taj Group today said it intends to double its room capacity from the existing 6,500 to 13,000 in the next five to six years.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the third annual Aviation and Tourism Summit here today, Group's Vice President (Development) Sumit Guha said expansion of these rooms would be in both luxury and premium class.

''In view of the rising demand for these categories of rooms, we are going to double the room capacity to 13,000,'' Mr Guha said.

Talking about the expansion plan, he said the Group in Bangalore, had a whitefiled project at Banarghatta, Yeshwantpur and Devnali, adding up to 1,000 rooms in premium and luxury classes.

''The work on the project is likely to be started by the end of 2008. To set up a hotel near Delhi airport, we have already submitted expression of interest to the government,'' he said.

Mr Guha, however, did not divulge the investment cost involved in the expansion project.

''As the expansion plan is to be undertaken through either 100 per cent owned or joint ventures or management contract basis, privately-managed etc, the cost differs from project to project.''

UNI