Hotels in Calcutta have pooled 783 rooms in response to a state government call to create accommodation for self-isolation of individuals coming to the city from abroad.

Eleven properties have been identified by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India, an umbrella body of hospitality firms in the region, which can provide such people with rooms.

The association has proposed Fairfield by Marriott, Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport, Holiday Inn Resort Kolkata on NH6, Taj Bengal, Hyatt, Pride Plaza, Westin, Fern Residency, The Lalit Great Eastern, Vivanta and The Stadel to the state government.

The health and family welfare department had approached the association for a list of hotels in the city for self-isolation of people returning from abroad. This had come in the wake of the Centre starting a drive to bring back stranded Indians by operating flights across the world.

The rooms will be offered at a discount of around 40-50 per cent and some hotels have included food as part of the tariff. Some have requested bulk booking, saying they would incur operating costs while maintaining “strict hygiene standards” and running centralised air conditioner.

If the individuals who check in show any symptom during the 14-day isolation period, they will be shifted for treatment.

“In response to a request from the state health department, many of our hotel members have come forward to provide rooms for self-isolation to accommodate Indians who are expected to reach Calcutta from various parts of the world,” Pranav Singh, the president of the hoteliers’ association, said. “We have identified the hotels and available rooms and sent a list to the state health department.”

These rooms in the city are in addition to more than 2,000 rooms already on offer across the state in various star-category hotels for isolation of people who are suspected to have come in contact with a Covid-19 patient, Singh said.

“This is an extraordinary time. Hotels will run almost at cost basis after giving all the amenities and maintaining topmost priority on hygiene. We as an association would like to come forward with all the support for people coming to Calcutta from abroad,” Sudesh Poddar, the honorary secretary of the association, said.

Individuals who can afford will be asked to check into an available hotel and the state will arrange for medical check-ups at these places, according to state health officials. The move is part of a government strategy to mobilise available infrastructure in the form of unused hotel rooms and quarantine people returning to the city from abroad.

Hotels have stopped operations after the Centre announced the lockdown. Hotels have been kept out of the list of services that have resumed operations.

Hotels and number of rooms

• Fairfield by Mariott 120
• Holiday Inn, Kolkata Airport 100
• Taj Bengal 90
• Hyatt Regency 55
• Pride Plaza 110
• Holiday Inn Resort Kolkata NH6 48
• Fern Residency 35
• The Lalit Great Eastern 90
• The Stadel 15
• Westin 50
• Vivanta 70