Mumbai’s Sea Rock Hotel to be Rebranded as Taj Bandstand, Set for 2025

23 Jan 2025 CW Team

“We are awaiting the commencement certificate from the BMC and approval from the Airport Authority of India. Once these are secured, construction will begin, and we expect to start in the second half of 2025,” said Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO of IHCL.

Taj Bandstand will mark IHCL’s fifth luxury property in Mumbai, joining its renowned portfolio of Taj hotels, which includes the Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End (located opposite Sea Rock), Taj Santacruz, and Taj The Trees.

Together, these four existing Taj hotels boast a total of 1,550 rooms, contributing to IHCL’s network of 12 operating hotels across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which also includes brands like Ginger, SeleQtions, and Vivanta. Mumbai currently has 75 branded hotels with a total of 15,524 rooms, with upscale and luxury hotels accounting for nearly 71% of the room inventory.

Sea Rock Hotel, originally opened in 1978 by the Luthria family, was a popular destination, particularly for celebrities. In 1986, ITC took over its operations under a license agreement. The hotel was severely damaged during the 1993 terrorist attacks, after which it closed due to a dispute between the owners and ITC.

In 2005, Suresh Nanda of the Claridges Hotel acquired the property for Rs 3 billion. IHCL later purchased an 85% stake from the Nanda family in 2009, with plans to rebuild the hotel, add a convention centre, and create a commercial complex. However, the project faced delays due to legal disputes and environmental clearance issues. IHCL gained full ownership of the Sea Rock site in 2020, when it acquired the remaining stake.

The redevelopment of this iconic property is now set to begin as Taj Bandstand, adding another prestigious address to Mumbai’s luxury hospitality landscape.

(BusinessLine)

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

The iconic Sea Rock Hotel in Bandra will soon undergo a major transformation as it reopens under the new name Taj Bandstand. The Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has announced plans to begin construction on the sea-facing site in the second half of 2025, following the receipt of necessary approvals. “We are awaiting the commencement certificate from the BMC and approval from the Airport Authority of India. Once these are secured, construction will begin, and we expect to start in the second half of 2025,” said Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO of IHCL. Taj Bandstand will mark IHCL’s fifth luxury property in Mumbai, joining its renowned portfolio of Taj hotels, which includes the Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End (located opposite Sea Rock), Taj Santacruz, and Taj The Trees. Together, these four existing Taj hotels boast a total of 1,550 rooms, contributing to IHCL’s network of 12 operating hotels across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which also includes brands like Ginger, SeleQtions, and Vivanta. Mumbai currently has 75 branded hotels with a total of 15,524 rooms, with upscale and luxury hotels accounting for nearly 71% of the room inventory. Sea Rock Hotel, originally opened in 1978 by the Luthria family, was a popular destination, particularly for celebrities. In 1986, ITC took over its operations under a license agreement. The hotel was severely damaged during the 1993 terrorist attacks, after which it closed due to a dispute between the owners and ITC. In 2005, Suresh Nanda of the Claridges Hotel acquired the property for Rs 3 billion. IHCL later purchased an 85% stake from the Nanda family in 2009, with plans to rebuild the hotel, add a convention centre, and create a commercial complex. However, the project faced delays due to legal disputes and environmental clearance issues. IHCL gained full ownership of the Sea Rock site in 2020, when it acquired the remaining stake. The redevelopment of this iconic property is now set to begin as Taj Bandstand, adding another prestigious address to Mumbai’s luxury hospitality landscape. (BusinessLine)

Infrastructure Transport

01 Sep 2025

Indian Railways Marks New Milestone with 4.5 km Long ‘Rudrastra’ Trial

Indian Railways has successfully conducted the trial run of Asia’s longest freight train, named ‘Rudrastra’, achieving a new milestone in cargo transportation, as per news reports. The 4.5 km-long train began its trial from Ganjkhwaja railway station in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, and travelled to Garhwa in Jharkhand. Covering a distance of 209 km in 5 hours and 10 minutes, it maintained an average speed of 40.5 km per hour. The train was formed by combining three long-haul racks, with ..

Infrastructure Energy

01 Sep 2025

UltraTech Launches India’s First On-Site Hybrid RTC Renewable Energy Project

UltraTech Cement has operationalised a 7.5 MW round-the-clock (RTC) hybrid renewable energy project at its Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The first-of-its-kind solution combines bifacial solar modules with trackers, wind energy and battery storage, co-located on-site, to ensure uninterrupted power for cement manufacturing without grid reliance. The project was executed in collaboration with clean energy solutions provider Gentari. Installed as a behind-the-meter system, it is the country..

Infrastructure Transport

09 Sep 2025

Patna Metro Trials Successful, Red Line Priority Corridor to Launch This Month

Patna is set to roll out its first metro rail service later this month, with successful trial runs conducted on the Red Line priority corridor, the Patna Metro Rail Corporation announced.On 7 September, a metro train completed a test run between the Patna depot and Bhootnath station. Officials said the trials involved rigorous checks of rolling stock fitness, overhead electrification (OHE), and track alignment and stability to ensure operational safety and performance.The corridor from the New Pataliputra Bus Terminal to Bhoothnath has been designated as the priority stretch and will be the fi..