Thiruvananthapuram: The State-owned Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), which owns the largest chain of hotels in Kerala, proposes to construct a 70-room star hotel in Chennai at a cost of Rs. 20 crore.

The plan prepared by KTDC has been submitted to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority for mandatory approval, a top official of the corporation told The Hindu .

The Government had already given the green signal to KTDC to go ahead with the project.

The hotel will come up on 55 cents owned by the corporation near Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. The proposed nine-storey hotel building will have 74 rooms. "It would have all modern facilities as in a star hotel as the aim is to provide quality accommodation", he said.

Of the nine floors, two floors will be in the basement. The hotel building will reflect Kerala architecture.

It is for the first time that the public sector undertaking is setting up a hotel property outside Kerala.

Along with this, the corporation has chalked out plans to renovate the heritage structure of Hotel Mascot, the flagship hotel of the KTDC, in the capital.

Built to house the officers of the Royal British Army during World War 1, the 20 rooms in the heritage structure of Hotel Mascot had been closed down since the renovated hotel was thrown open to the guests.

The number of rooms in Tea County, KTDC's four-star deluxe hill resort in Munnar, would be increased.

According to the official, the number of rooms in the premium property would be increased from 44 to 60.

The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is an ornithologist's paradise and a favourite haunt of migratory birds.

The corporation has plans to introduce guided bird watching trails and to open an interpretation centre.

The corporation has Waterscapes, a four-star backwater resort at Kumarakom.

At present, the corporation owns 8 premium hotel and resort properties in major tourist destinations of the State in addition to the 8 budget hotels, six Yatri Nivas and 50 beer parlours.

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