The Meghalaya cabinet today agreed to a fresh 30-year lease for Maxim Infrastructure & Real Estate Pvt Ltd with regards to the development of Shillong’s first five-star hotel.
The hotel, which was supposed to carry the Marriott name, saw construction begin in 2010-11 on Shillong Municipal Board land in Jail Road. But the project landed in controversies and the imposing white elephant of a building is still far from complete.
Before signing the new lease agreement there was concern over a case where the previous party had defaulted on loans.
“In that situation the NCLT has taken over the project. The NCLT put out the project and through a fair bidding process the company by the name of Maxim Infrastructure & Real Estate Pvt Ltd got the project,” the Chief Minister said.
Maxim Infrastructure & Real Estate Pvt Ltd is a firm based out of Shillong, which, according to records, was formed in 2007.
The Chief Minister said that there were certain concerns that were raised by the new firm about the terms and conditions.
“They were supposed to receive 71,000 square feet whereas the actual lease was for only 61,000 sq ft. The company wanted adjustments for that in the new lease,” Sangma said.
The firm also requested that dues not paid by the last lessee be removed from the new deal as Maxim Infra were not responsible for them. However, the government, while making some concessions in terms of interest incurred and time to pay, insisted that it be paid the monies due.
