DHARAMSHALA (Sunil Chadha)
In a bid to strengthen its foothold in Kangra, the Himachal Pradesh Congress government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is considering shifting the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) headquarters from Shimla to Dharamshala.
Dharamshala, a prominent tourist destination and headquarters of Kangra district, has already been announced as the tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh by CM Sukhu.
The move aligns with the government’s vision to boost tourism and decentralise administration in the state.
Part of plans to decongest Shimla
Another reason for the proposed shift is to decongest Shimla, the state capital, which currently houses the HPTDC and almost all other offices.
The corporation oversees a network of government-run hotels and tourism-related properties. Plans to ease Shimla’s administrative burden often led to discussions about relocating offices to other cities.
HPTDC headed by Nagrota MLA Bali
The move could also benefit RS Bali, the Congress MLA from Nagrota Bagwan in Kangra and the Chairman of the HPTDC who holds cabinet rank. Strengthening the HPTDC’s presence in Kangra might bolster his position and influence.
Politically, Kangra holds significant weight, sending 15 MLAs — the highest from any district — to the Assembly. However, the Congress allocated only two ministerial berths to Kangra this time, drawing criticism from the BJP.
Relocating the HPTDC office to Dharamshala could help the Congress address these concerns and appease the region’s electorate.
2 major state-level offices in Dharamshala
Currently, Dharamshala has two major state-level offices: the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education and the Himachal Pradesh Takniki Shiksha Board.
The addition of the HPTDC headquarters would further elevate the city’s administrative profile.
At a meeting in Shimla on Monday (January 6, 2025), CM Sukhu emphasised enhancing the HPTDC’s operations, which achieved record revenue of Rs 105 crore in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
The government has also allocated Rs 250 crore for the phased renovation of 11 major HPTDC properties, aiming to improve the corporation’s financial viability.
The Chief Minister directed officials to collaborate with leading online platforms like MakeMyTrip and Swiggy for hotel bookings and restaurant deliveries.
Additionally, innovative ideas such as launching food trucks in crowded tourist areas and establishing glass restaurants in Manali were discussed to attract more visitors.
“The move, if executed, is expected to serve both administrative and political purposes, strengthening Kangra’s role in the state and bolstering Congress’ position in this politically crucial district,” said a political analyst.
