Calcutta, June 7: The renovation of the Oberoi Grand, aimed at giving it the best in communications and comfort while bringing safety measures up to international standards, will be completed by November 1998.

The first phase of the renovation will be completed by November this year, and the second phase will be taken up in April 1998, after the busy season ends.

Brushing aside the fire incident in cricketer Saurav Ganguly's room during the 1996 World Cup, Oberoi Grand general manager Dominique Nordmann told The Financial Express that the incident was a total ``non issue'' as there was no loss to personal belongings and no one was injured.

``Fires do happen in the best of hotels worldwide, but we have taken precautions against a reoccurrence.'' He claimed that the hotel had in place fire safety standards as specified by the Fire Services Act of 1950 and 1996. The hotel also has a fire license issued by the West Bengal Fire Services Department, he added.

Though the hotel had conducted an internal enquiry and sent the findings to the fire services department, the department was yet to get back to them, he said.

``The Oberoi Grand has not received any formal recommendation till date from the enquiry committee dealing with the fire incident in Room 147 on 27 November 1996, regarding their findings in the fire safety standards of the hotel,'' Nordmann said.

On the renovation, he said 115 rooms will be overhauled at a cost of Rs 7.25 lakh per room. ``It will have mordern day comfort and communication gadgets set against the old world charm of the interiors.''

The aim is to re-create the ambience of the Grand in its yesteryears.

``Work will be suspended during the peak season between November and March, and the hotel will embark on the second phase of its renovation from April 1998. This will be completed by November 1998,'' he added.

With the Oberoi group looking at ``entire India as its playing field,'', the Simla hotel was thrown open early this May. Meanwhile, the group is scouting for a site for a second hotel in Calcutta, and also plans to revive the Darjeeling hotel, which had been closed because of water shortage.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.