Terror-hit hotels limp back to normal life

By Gayatri Makhijani, Mumbai, Nov 25 : 'In memory and faith that peace can come on Earth as it is in Heaven.' Thus reads a scrawling handwriting in a memorial book placed at the historic Hotel Taj Mahal Palace & Tower. The book lies next to a sacred 'Tree of Life' setting, which commemorates those who laid down their lives when a handful of terrorists invaded the hotel on the night of Nov 26, 2008, and held guests and staff hostage for the next 60 hours.

The same night, another group entered the Trident-Oberoi Hotel, at Nariman Point barely a kilometre away from the Taj and two kilometres from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, where they carried out a spate of similar atrocities.

Including foreigners, 166 people were killed in the attack which also left 264 injured or maimed. Both hotels suffered extensive infrastructure damage, in amounts running into millions of rupees.

A year later the Taj Mahal Hotel has sprung back but cautiously and a little at a time.

The piano man plays a soft tune in the lobby, the Starboard restaurant is bustling with people. The Sea Lounge has been restored and became operational again in May. The Coffee Shop, Shamiana, has a few odd tables occupied.

Of the three famed restaurants fully destroyed in the attacks, the Golden Dragon reopened Nov 23, while the Harbour Bar and Wasabi are expected to throw their doors open later Wednesday, on the eve of the 26/11 attacks, said hotel spokesperson Nikhila Palat.

The plush rooms in the heritage wing are likely to be available for booking early 2010, followed by the opening of the ballroom.

Lined up next for renovation are the famed presidential suites which have hosted top dignitaries, royalty, presidents and prime ministers from around the world.

At the Trident-Oberoi, normal operations are likely to begin only much later in 2010.

Front office manager Mrudu Nair said: "We wish we could open the Trident-Oberoi sooner. Unfortunately, our atrium lobby does not permit us to open the hotel in phases. The exclusive, members-only Belvedere Club is now functional."

Both hotels have planned private memorial services for the staff members and guests who lost their lives during the 26/11 mayhem.

Palat said: "We are holding a special meet for our staff the morning of the anniversary. It will be a purely private affair."

In the last one year, many national and international celebrities have stayed at the hotels as a mark of solidarity in India's fight against terror. These included US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Even top class events are being held here as usual -- earlier this year, the Taj hosted the launch of the Tata Nano car which was probably the biggest media event for the Indian automobile industry so far.

Now there are thorough and elaborate security checks before one can enter either hotel.

However, Taj regular Bhumika Shah still feels the measures are inadequate.

"We go through the security procedure, and feel constrained while entering the Taj. But I feel it is not enough. We need a lot more security and investigation from the government, to feel totally safe and relaxed," Shah told IANS.