After changing the face of rail ticketing in the country by introducing bookings over the internet, Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), a public sector enterprise under the railways ministry, is now on its way to change the perceived notion among travellers of the Rail Yatri Niwas and heritage BNR hotels.

The IRCTC has joined hands with private hospitality players like Roots Corporation Ltd (RCL), a 100% subsidiary of The Indian Hotels Company Limited, among others, in a bid to renovate and manage these properties.

?We are not only renovating Rail Yatri Niwas in New Delhi and Howrah but also two heritage BNR hotels in Ranchi and Puri under the public private partnership (PPP) model,? said a spokesperson from IRCTC.

For the New Delhi property, IRCTC has joined hands with RCL. The property was recently opened and is the first Rail Yatri Niwas under the PPP model.

RCL CEO Prabhat Pani said, ?Ginger Rail Yatri Niwas in New Delhi is not only the city?s first Ginger hotel. It?s also unique as it has been renovated from a Rail Yatri Niwas to a contemporary budget hotel.?

Located at the Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi Railway Station, an investment of about Rs 10.5 crore has been made by RCL. Ginger Rail Yatri Niwas has 109 Smart Basics rooms. The rooms will be available at a price of Rs 1,199 (inclusive of taxes), while 50% of the rooms will be offered at Rs 999 per room per night (inclusive of taxes).

The hotel will also have rooms with four beds where each bed offered at Rs 250 for a night. The Howrah property is being renovated by Meghalaya Hotels Private Limited. ?It will be operational in another five to six months,? said the spokesperson. The heritage BNR hotels at Puri and Ranchi is being renovated by Sujata Hotel Private Limited.

?The properties are being leased out for a period of 15 years and a percentage of the revenue generated by the property will be shared,? said the spokesperson. On whether RCL will be looking at more such properties, Pani said, ?We are open to such PPPs and would be keen on to participate to bid for any future options that come up. We had bid only for the property in New Delhi which has been renovated and is opertional as the Ginger Rail Yatri Niwas.?

He added currently, the all the properties are owned and managed by the company.