The Mayfair hotel in Darjeeling. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Dec. 18: Preparations have started on a war footing at Mayfair Resorts and the Gorkha Rangamancha Bhawan, the two shortlisted venues for the tripartite meeting on December 21.

The delegates will be staying at Mayfair situated near the Mall and even though the Darjeeling district administration has “blocked” the conference room, the hotel is still awaiting a final confirmation.

At the hotel, which charges Rs 9,000 per day for a double-bedroom plus five per cent service charges along with complimentary breakfast, the preparations are complete.

“A fresh coat of paint is being applied. The conference hall which is called the Himalayan Bird (after a steam locomotive of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) has been spruced up and we have decided on a blue ambience to go with the settings,” said Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, the resort manager of Mayfair.

“Fifteen rooms for the delegates have been confirmed and we will be keeping a butler each for every room. They are being brought from our luxury hotel in Gangtok,” said Mohapatra.

The conference hall, which resembles a mini-museum of the DHR, is also being spruced up. “DHR features prominently in our hotel. An exact replica of the DHR has been kept at the entrance of the conference hall,” said Mohapatra.

Cutlery imported from Malaysia will be used but the menu is yet to be finalised. “We will definitely serve a special menu but we have not yet decided on anything before the final confirmation,” said Mohapatra. Darjeeling district magistrate Surendra Gupta said they had shortlisted the two venues. “In all probability the meeting will be held at Mayfair,” said Gupta.

Even though Rangamancha Bhawan will probably be ruled out at the last moment, the authorities are taking no chances with the preparation. Work is being carried on a war footing at the yet to be completed structure. Bitumen is being laid on the entrance and final touches are being applied to portions which were not painted.

“Chairs have been brought and the arrangements are also complete,” said an employee stationed at the Rangamancha Bhawan. The Rangamancha Bhawan has not yet been inaugurated but Morcha meetings and exhibitions have been held at the complex in the past. If the authorities do decide to hold the meeting at the Rangamancha Bhawan, the structure, too, would be formally inaugurated.