Taj Mansingh: NDMC eases eligibility criteria for bidders

NEW DELHI: Failing to auction the iconic Taj Mansingh hotel in Lutyens Delhi in two attempts, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to relax the eligibility criteria for bidders and reduce the minimum number of bids required.

The decision was taken at a council meeting presided over by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thurday.

The auction had to be put off twice as it got less than the required number of bids for the five-star property to go under the hammer, New Delhi MP and NDMC member Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters here.

“So, now the minimum number of bids has been reduced from three to two. The minimum turnover eligibility has also has been reduced for bidders. The details will be notified soon,” she said.

Earlier, the civic body had issued an annulment notice for the e-auction in June when it had to be cancelled since only the Tata Group’s Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) - the existing operator - had submitted its bid for retaining the property. The bid for the only other participant, ITC, was not accepted on technical grounds. The re-auction was to be held on July 18 had the NDMC got at least three bids.

Taj Mansingh was given to the Tata group in 1978 on a lease for 33 years The company was since given nine temporary extensions. However, NDMC could not auction the property then as it was tied up in a legal battle with the IHCL.