Review decision to hand over 14 state tourism corporation properties, Bali urges government

Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Raghubir Singh Bali today urged the state government to review its decision to hand over 14 hotels and cafes of the corporation on the operate and maintenance (ONM) basis to private players.

Bali, while addressing mediapersons here, said that the government should allow the HPTDC to get a feasibility study of all these properties done and then take the final decision on handing over these to private parties on the ONM basis. “We are bound to abide by the decision of the Cabinet but first we must be given money to renovate these properties and undertake a feasibility study. Probably, the Cabinet was not aware of all facts when it took the decision,” he added.

He said that it seems all facts were not placed before the government. “As such, there is need to reconsider this decision as the employees are making efforts to improve the functioning of all 56 hotels of the HPTDC, which are flagship units,” he added.

Bali said that these 14 properties were located at very good locations and could be turned into profitable ventures with some renovation. The Chief Minister had assured him that the HPTDC would be provided funds from Asian Development Bank (ADB) to renovate its hotels to increase revenue, he added.

He said that before taking this decision, the government should have examined the facts, data and performance figures of all these units. He added that in the past two and a half years, the HPTDC had not been provided any grant and its turnover had touched Rs 100 crore primarily due to cutting of wasteful expenditure. “Many of our properties are in need of renovation but we understand current limitations,” he added.

Bali said that the properties built with the help of ADB funds recently could be given on the ONM basis but not old HPTDC hotels, which were all functional. “If even after renovation these 14 units do not turn profitable, they can then be leased,” he added.

Himachal Tribune