Taj bustles with activity for opening

Mumbai, Dec 19 (PTI) The Taj Palace, which stands as a
grim reminder to the worst terror attack in Mumbai, is now
witnessing a lot of activity with employees working tirelessly
to prepare a portion of the hotel for receiving guests from
December 21.

The Taj, a heritage building which has hosted foreign
dignitaries and celebrities from across the world over the
last 100 years, has been surrounded with barricades blocking a
direct view of its front entrance, the location of the final
standoff between security forces and terrorists.

White covers have been used to conceal the damage
caused on the first floor of the heritage hotel facing the
Gateway of India and its main dome, which was up in flames
after grenades were lobbed at it by the terrorists.

Similarly, work is also on progress in the Taj Tower,
of which 268 room including nine suites will be thrown open to
guests on December 21, with workers toiling to prepare the
hotel for the opening.

An employee said they were all working towards
ensuring the hotel was the same as it was before the
terrorists struck it on the night of November 26.

"On December 20, we are having a pre-opening party
for employees and then will gear up for the opening on
December 21," the employee said on condition on anonymity.

Apart from the rooms, the hotel will also throw open
doors to its restaurants in the tower wing which include the
upscale 'Zodiac Grill' and 'Aquarius', the lounge bar by the
swimming pool, Taj officials said.

Employees and workers have been issued specially
prepared identity cards for entering into the Taj.

"It does feel nice that the hotel will be opening soon
but I would not like to say anything else," an employee of the
Taj Hotel said on condition of anonymity.

Support staff like drivers have also been recalled and
are waiting for their first assignments after close to a
month of inactivity.

"We have been on leave since the day of the terrorist
attack. Luckily, I was not there on that day and it was only
yesterday that we were told to return back to work," Nazim, a
driver who works at the hotel, said.

"I am just hoping that once the hotel reopens we will
go back to the same as it was before," he said.

Stores that lined the ground floor of the Taj tower
will also reopen along with the hotel.

"For us it is as good as a new life," Gopi Nair,
manager of Nalanda bookstore, one of the many stores that is
located in the hotel, said.

"On the day of the attack, our staff of 20 were
evacuated unhurt and the store also did not sustain any
damage," he said.

The staff of the bookstore were allowed access to the
store yesterday and have spent the last few days cleaning and
preparing for the opening despite having to work without
electricity at times, Nair said.

The front facade of the Taj tower hotel bears no sign
of the repair work which has been undertaken over the last few
weeks but workers were seen dangling off the roof at the rear
as they put finishing touches to the building.

Lanes that lead to the hotel are still cordoned off,
stores adjoining it continue to be closed and are likely to
remain so until December 21.

Security personnel and police officials continue to
turn away eager tourists who want a photograph of the hotel
"from a little closer". PTI AG
PMR
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