Taking private-public partnership to a whole new level, Delhi-based developers Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd. has inked a deal with the Maharaja of Jodhpur to convert a heritage property 'Rai Ka Bagh' into a heritage hotel cum mall.

In a first for India, the 80-room hotel will have retail establishments within the complex spread over two lakh square feet. The partners have pumped in approximately Rs 50 crore in the project, which is slated for completion in 2008. Explaining the concept, D Sachdev, director of Ansal Township & Projects Ltd, said "We are looking at innovative means to expand our hospitality portfolio. This venture gives us an opportunity to do just that and is combined with our forte - shopping malls. The five-star property is owned by us and we shall give the retail outlets out on lease to private parties. The USP of the mall is that it will retail ethnic goods from all parts of India." The group plans to attract not only the audience within the hotel but also visitors from other cities.

Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd is firmly ensconced in new age retailing with its shopping malls and is expanding its presence in North India with mixed-used developments, which shall include hotels and service apartments. The upcoming Ansal Plaza malls in Greater Noida, Palam Vihar, Sonepat, Panipat, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Meerut will also incorporate business, smart basic hotels and serviced apartments.

( www.expresshospitality.com)