Bed and Breakfast scheme for Commonwealth games visitors

1,000 Delhiites have registered to be part of government's Bed and Breakfast scheme for Commonwealth games visitors

With worldclass interiors, top-of-the-line facilities, well-maintained bathrooms and smoke detectors, many homes in the posh southern and central parts of the city are getting ready to welcome the one lakh tourists who are expected to descend on the Capital for next year's Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi government's Bed and Breakfast scheme has attracted 1,000 Delhiites who have a room to spare. However, the government is already under duress as the planned hotel rooms to make up for the shortage are running behind schedule. A parliamentary panel had predicted a shortage of 14,000 rooms in the city.

The government had planned to register 3,000 rooms under the Bed and Breakfast scheme launched two-and-a-half years ago but so far, only 1,000 rooms have been registered.

Rachna Chandra and Milind Sinha have a four-room apartment in South Delhi's posh GK II area. Both are doctors by profession and currently based in the US. Presently, Dr Sinha's parents reside in the house. When they last visited India, the couple got their house registered under the scheme. Now, as the deadline for the Commonwealth Games nears, the couple is excited.

"We have especially registered our house keeping in view the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The event will witness a lot of foreign tourists coming to India. Most of the foreigners are unaware about our traditions and culture. Staying with an Indian family and sharing the food on the breakfast table will certainly help them to know our country better," said Rachita Chandra.

Priyank Kumar, a multinational bank employee, felt that the scheme was a good opportunity to help the country host a big event as well as earn a quick buck. Priyank had his Malviya Nagar home registered under the scheme. "It will certainly help the government to meet the room shortage in Delhi. The visitors will feel at home at such lodging."

The scheme was launched to provide a clean and affordable place for foreigners and domestic tourists, including an opportunity for foreign tourists to stay with an Indian family and to experience Indian customs and traditions and relish authentic Indian cuisine. Homeowners will also have to provide their tenant tourist breakfast every day.

The India-wide scheme has particular importance in Delhi, which is expected to be short of about 18,000 rooms when its hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The tourism ministry is banking heavily on the scheme to bail it out of the severe shortage of rooms. "The ministry is expecting around a lakh international tourists to the country during the Games and it is a golden opportunity. Based on this performance we can bid for the Olympics as well," said Sujit Banerjee, secretary, Ministry of Tourism.