Aizawl: Mizoram has long stood apart from the rest of the country for an unusual reason. According to the state government, it is the only state in India without a four-star or higher category hotel. That is now set to change after the Government of Mizoram signed a concession agreement with Shillong-based Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. to redevelop the Chaltlang Tourist Lodge in Aizawl into a four-star or higher category hotel.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, marks a landmark move for a hospitality infrastructure project in recent years and is expected to have implications that extend beyond tourism.
The concession agreement for the redevelopment of Chaltlang Tourist Lodge was signed between the Tourism Department, Government of Mizoram, and Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. at the Chief Minister’s Office. Vanlaldina Fanai, Commissioner and Secretary of the Tourism Department, signed on behalf of the state government, while Prashant Gupta, Chief Financial Officer and Whole-time Director of Hotel Polo Towers Ltd., represented the company.
The project was initiated by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in collaboration with the Planning and Programme Implementation Department of the Government of Mizoram. As part of efforts to attract investors, the state government organised a roadshow in Kolkata in February 2024 to promote the redevelopment project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with Invest India providing technical support.
Under the agreement, Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. will design, finance, construct, operate, manage and maintain the property under a Design, Build, Finance, Maintain, Operate, Manage and Transfer (DBFMOMT) model. Ownership of the land will remain with the Government of Mizoram.
The concession has been awarded for an initial period of 30 years, with provisions for two extensions of 10 years each, subject to the terms of the agreement.
The project was processed under the Mizoram Public Procurement Rules, 2020. After advertisements were published in Vanglaini and The Times of India, an electronic tender was floated through the State Procurement Portal in May 2025. Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. emerged as the sole bidder and was subsequently found to be technically qualified and fully responsive following evaluation.
According to the agreement, the hotel will initially have at least 60 rooms, with provision to expand by another 40 rooms in the future. It will include a 24-hour multi-cuisine coffee shop, a specialty restaurant, lounge, executive health club, gymnasium and spa facilities. The building will also be constructed to standards that would allow it to be upgraded to a five-star hotel in the future. The project site is expected to be handed over to the company within 45 days.
Why the project matters
While the project is expected to strengthen Mizoram’s tourism sector, its significance extends to sports, business, and investment.
Last year in February, EastMojo reported that the absence of premium accommodation had become one of the biggest barriers to Mizoram hosting major domestic cricket tournaments despite large-scale improvements in sporting infrastructure.
The Cricket Association of Mizoram has made steady progress in recent years, with new facilities including an indoor practice centre, pavilion and sports hostel under development. However, officials have repeatedly said accommodation remains one of the state’s weakest links.
“We have the necessary infrastructure to host Ranji Trophy, Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy as we have the required ground. However, when it comes to accommodation, that’s where we face an issue,” Joseph Lalhriatpuia, Assistant Secretary of the Cricket Association of Mizoram, had told EastMojo.
He had explained that inadequate accommodation and transport arrangements could result in demerit points from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), affecting Mizoram’s ability to host national tournaments. As a result, several of the state’s home fixtures have had to be played outside Mizoram.
Years in the making
The idea of establishing a premium hotel in Mizoram has been under discussion for several years.
In 2022, then Union Tourism, Culture and DoNER Minister G. Kishan Reddy expressed willingness to pursue a proposal for a five-star hotel in Mizoram after a recommendation from the state government.
In November 2024, Tourism Minister Lalrinpuii revealed that the government planned to redevelop the Chaltlang Tourist Lodge into a premium hotel and that several hotel chains had expressed interest in undertaking the project.
The agreement signed this week marks the first major step towards implementing that vision.
Hotel Polo Towers Ltd. is among the largest hospitality groups in Northeast India. The company currently operates nine hotels and has seven more projects under development, including public-private partnership projects with the governments of Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland, as well as Indian Railways.
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