The Bihar Government has launched the process for constructing three five-star hotels in Patna to enhance tourism and strengthen the state’s industrial ecosystem. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has issued e-tenders to select developers for the projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.The hotels will be developed at three prime locations: Hotel Patliputra Ashok, Bankipore Bus Stand, and Sultan Palace. Approved by the state cabinet on September 10, 2024, the selected developers will receive lease rights for 90 years—an initial lease of 60 years, extendable by 30 years.The deadline for bid submissions is February 10, 2025, with technical bids to be opened the following day. According to the Department of Tourism, the hotels will cater to an increasing number of tourists and bolster the state’s industrial growth.The Sultan Palace project will prioritise heritage preservation by converting the historic structure into a five-star heritage hotel. Meanwhile, the existing buildings at the Hotel Patliputra Ashok and Bankipore Bus Stand locations will be demolished to make way for modern five-star facilities.Each hotel will feature state-of-the-art amenities, with a minimum of 100 rooms planned for the 1.50-acre Hotel Patliputra Ashok site and 150 rooms each for the 3.24-acre Bankipore Bus Stand and 4.89-acre Sultan Palace sites.The initiative is expected to boost economic activities, create employment opportunities, and place Patna on the map as a luxury tourism destination while preserving the city's rich cultural heritage.(ET)