Grand set for facelift, guest rooms to be shut for 1.5 yrs
Times of India | 9 August 2024
Kolkata: The city’s grand old dame is getting a facelift. Come Independence Day, and The Oberoi Grand, which sits in the heart of Kolkata, will be shut down for 18 months for a thorough overhaul of its interiors. This is the longest time the hotel would be shut for renovation since its opening in 1938.
“The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata will be closing for 18 months for extensive restoration and conservation from Aug 15 to help restore the hotel’s former glory while incorporating modern amenities and ensuring the highest standards of luxury and comfort for our guests,” a spokesperson of EIH Hotels, the company that owns the hotel in Kolkata, said on Thursday.
The first phase of renovation will be over in 18 months and the hotel will reopen with 50 rooms and suites, all restaurants, banqueting, back-of-house facilities and an upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure. The second phase will take another 12 months, following which the hotel will have 200 renovated rooms and suites, the spokesperson added. However, the banquets of the age old hotel would be operational for the time being.
The Grand Ballroom and Burdwan & Cooch Behar Halls will continue to operate. These facilities will close on March 15, 2025 for renovation.
“We are committed to preserving the historical and architectural integrity of The Oberoi Grand. Our restoration plans have been carefully crafted to maintain the charm and character of the heritage elements while updating the infrastructure to meet modern standards. The restoration will be governed by the State Heritage Committee,” the spokesperson said.
Acquired on lease in 1938 by patriarch Mohan Singh Oberoi, the Kolkata landmark with its distinct palatial edifice, has stood the test of time, attracting visitors from India and abroad for its well-appointed rooms, excellent dining and great location (overlooking Chowringhee and a stretch of the Maidan). In Aug 2018, the hotel was closed for 18 months when 50 new rooms were added after nearly a quarter of a century.
“Although it is located in one of the most congested parts of the city, bearing the onslaught of hawkers below its showpiece ‘Grand Arcade’, once inside you feel you are far from the madding crowds,” said Avijit Dasgupta, a Londoner who spends a staycation here whenever he is visiting his parents in Kolkata.