Majestic Taj Gateway Hotel To Slip Into Annals Of History

Visakhapatnam: Taj Gateway Hotel, a popular landmark overlooking the panoramic beach road in the City of Destiny, is all set to slip into annals of history with the owners of the building deciding to demolish it to take up construction of three towers.

Venue for several important conferences - be it to promote tourism, industrialisation or hosting international events, the hotel (erstwhile Sea Pearl Hotel before takeover by Taj Group) saw its last day for bookings on the Children's Day. Bulldozing the elegant structure will start once rich interiors, teakwood furniture and appliances are removed from the hotel. A popular rendezvous for many for food, get-togethers, social events, exhibitions and weddings, almost everyone in the city and its neighbourhood has fond memories to cherish having spent time in the hotel. The social media mainly X (twitterati) has been flooded with messages on the demolition of the majestic structure, which has a spectacular view of the Bay of Bengal. The hotel is at a stone's throw distance from Hotel Novotel, Grand Bay Hotel, Varun Inox and RK Beach.

Visakhapatnam-based Varun Group headed by Prabhu Kishore acquired the hotel from Oriental Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) for Rs 120 crore. Varun Group, which was waiting for incentives as a mega project, earlier announced its intention to construct three skyscrapers for housing a hotel, luxury service apartments and commercial activity with an estimated investment of Rs 600 crore.

Prabhu Kishore had told Bizz Buzz earlier that after preparing blue print for redevelopment of the building with three new towers, they would take up construction work after obtaining approvals for being a mega project for investments of more than Rs 250-300 crore under the tourism policy to take up work on building a hotel, high-end apartments and an office block.

"The redevelopment is for better keeping in view with the growing needs of the city, which is fast emerging as a popular cosmopolitan city due to robust industrial infra and the scope to emerge as a leading tourism, IT and pharma hub," K Vijay Mohan, Managing Director of Holiday World, a travel firm, said. The building's demolition with a legacy of 45 years has saddened many. Reacting on X, Equal Lives said: "Sad but inevitable. No other building can match its beauty. Suited at that time to a small and quaint Vizag. I hope they build a better looking structure than a drum or block."

Another user said, "Sad to see it go. Old order changing giving way to new." The Vizag weatherman said, "Vizag's famous Taj Gateway hotel is going to be demolished soon...A total 3 towers will be built for hotel and high-end office space."

Another under the account The Legendary Sue said, "Depressing news...not like the Taj property is special but it adds a certain charm to Beach Road...This proposed glass box will only make the neighbourhood hotter and the streets more crowded."