MANDI: Even as the Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered the closure of 18 “loss-making” and “less-profitable” hotels of the state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is getting built a luxury government hotel in his home town Nadaun, a place hardly visible on the tourism map.
The decision to construct the hotel at Nadaun in Hamirpur district has left the public and opposition questioning the government’s priorities. “If HPTDC hotels in popular tourist hubs like Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala are struggling, how can the government justify the viability of a hotel in Nadaun, which has minimal footfall?” said a private tour operator from Kullu.
The hotel in Nadaun is being built at an estimated Rs 32.86 crore. The construction contract, worth Rs 25.82 crore, has been awarded to Ajay Kumar Sood Engineers & Contractors.
Who will visit Nadaun, questions ex-CM Jai Ram
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur too has questioned the government’s decision. “Nadaun is not a tourist destination, neither does it holds any historical, religious or commercial significance to attract visitors. If the government cannot sustain hotels in Shimla, Dharamshala or Kasauli, how will it run a hotel in Nadaun,” he asked.
Jai Ram alleged that the Sukhu government’s priorities were misplaced, which reflected from its decision to build the Nadaun hotel when educational institutions and public welfare offices opened during his tenure were shut down after the Congress came to power. “It’s a clear misuse of public funds and raises suspicions of favouritism. Many believe the state government is more interested in benefiting a select few rather than boosting the tourism sector,” he said.
The Congress government is already facing sharp criticism over the high court order to close down 18 hotels operated by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), citing low occupancy and financial losses.
Among the hotels slated for closure are prominent and profitable establishments such as Hotel Chail Palace in Chail (Solan), Manali’s Hotel Kunzum and Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala. These hotels are located in prime tourist destinations that attract lakhs of visitors annually. Despite their evident popularity, these hotels are to be shut down.
Jai Ram has called out the state government for its alleged “massive conspiracy” in the case. Speaking exclusively to The Newz Radar, he alleged, “The government is falsely portraying profitable hotels as loss-making to justify their closure. It is evident that these properties are being handed over to favoured individuals under the guise of financial constraints.”
Thakur criticized the government for “not defending the hotel case effectively in court”, stating that the decision to lease or sell them off was “premeditated”. He emphasised that even during the COVID-19 pandemic when hotels were shut for months, such drastic measures were not taken.
