CM lays foundation stone for AmbujaNeotia’s second ambitious project in Sikkim MUNAL KUTIR, A 5-STAR LUXURY RESORT AND SPA COMING UP IN BARFUNG

PURAN TAMANG
RABONG, 19 Nov: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling laid the foundation stone of Munal Kutir, an ambitious 5-star luxury resort and spa being developed by the Ambuja Neotia group, at Barfung near here today. The foundation stone laying ceremony was also attended by the Ambuja Neotia Group chairperson Harshavardan Neotia, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, chairpersons, Zilla Adhakshya and Upadakshya and the government officers.
Mr. Chamling congratulated and thanked Mr. Neotia for bringing in such substantial investments to Sikkim.
Interestingly, this is the second mega project being undertaken by AmbujaNeotia in Sikkim, its first, also a luxury resort, coming up in Pangthang above Gangtok. The foundation stone of that project was also laid by the Chief Minister.
Commenting on the improving profile and increasing number of investors coming to Sikkim, the Chief Minister highlighted that investors were coming to Sikkim because they felt secure here. The arrival of such investors was proof of the good governance and peaceful environment maintained in Sikkim, which, he said, was the biggest achievements of his government.
“The future of Sikkim and its people is bright and more opportunities are awaiting everyone here,” he said.
The CM went on to point out that positive developments in Sikkim were fetching recognition in national and international levels, and should be welcomed with pride by the people. Given the nature of investment he was heralding in the South district village today, the CM remarked that the investment was secure since Sikkim was destined to continue climbing the tourism graph. He mentioned the recent recognition as the must visit destination for 2014 accorded on Sikkim by Lonely Planet magazine and continuing endorsement of Sikkim developmental plans moving in the right direction.
He said that tourist arrivals have been increasing year on year and while at present most of the visitors were domestic tourists, Sikkim was now on the verge of witnessing a surge in foreign tourist arrivals.
Projects such as Munal Kutir, he said, were in preparation of the improving profile of tourism in Sikkim. He also urged Mr. Neotia to involve more locals in this tourism projects. As for the locals, he urged them to upgrade their skills to meet the human resource requirements of a 5-star project in their midst and work towards meeting supplies required for the resort. The project, he highlighted, will be bringing multiple opportunities for the locals. For those willing to seize the opportunities, free training will be provided, he assured.
He also remarked that Sikkim was not being able to leverage the opportunities to the best because the people lacked a sense of belonging and had still not developed a spontaneous sense of ownership. Once this feeling came in, opportunities will no longer be squandered and infrastructure no longer underutilized, he said.
Similarly, the Ambuja Neotia Group chairperson, in his address, shared that Sikkim now felt like home for him and reiterated that he has always received encouragement and support from the Chief Minister. It was this openness which had convinced him to develop another tourism project in Sikkim [after Guras Kutir at Pangthang].
As for the project, Mr. Neotia informed that it will be developed in phases. First, a boutique resort and rooms will be developed, after which villas with modern facilities will be added. Spread across 19 acres, and surrounded by hills with substantial forest cover, Munal Kutir promises to impress when completed.
As mentioned, the property will be built in phases and has been spread out over three chief components- boutique cottages, villas and premium five star hotel with a casino. Phase 1 of the property which comprises the boutique hotel and spa will be completed in two years. This will be followed by phase 2 that entails the premium hotel with casino and the villas.
The property promises to be an eco-friendly resort with amenities like solar water heating, rain water harvesting, composting toilets, energy-efficiency etc.