MoT proposes to set up single window clearance system under aegis of HDPB for hotel projects

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has proposed to set up of a single window clearance system under the aegis of the Hospitality Development and Promotion Board (HDPB). This proposal is being decided upon with an aim to provide a major boost for hotel infrastructure.  The Board, to be established along the lines of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), will streamline permissions and clearances required for the hotel industry. Currently, there are as many as 64 clearances that are required to set up a hotel.

According to a report in the Times of India, as per a source from MoT, the proposal is in the final stages and requires a nod from the cabinet secretariat. The decision comes at a time when India is struggling to meet accommodation demands for Commonwealth Games 2010. With an estimated 30,000 rooms required, hotels have only contributed about 10,000 rooms. The source informed that rest of the demand will be met through guesthouses, bed and breakfast rooms and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats that are being refurbished by India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).