In a first, HPTDC sees highest turnover of Rs 107 crore

Indian Express

01-05-2025

The state government on Wednesday claimed that the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has recorded a turnover of Rs 107 crore for the first time since the corporation's inception in 1972. The government said that the previous highest turnover of Rs 78 crore was recorded during the BJP regime in 2020-21. Meanwhile, the state govenrment has also decided to shift the office of HPTDC from Shimla to Kangra. The decision was taken in a meeting of Board of Directors (BoD) of HPTDC.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a statement issued after chairing a meeting of HPTDC and Tourism department said, 'Due to the turnover earned by the HPTDC, the corporation has been able to clear Rs 41 crore benefits of pensioners during the past two and half years whereas the previous BJP government disbursed only Rs 26 crore in five years.' Sukhu said, 'The HPTDC has achieved the annual turnover from Rs 78 crore during the previous BJP government's rule Rs 107 crore under the present government despite facing challenges posed by natural disasters. This has been achieved due to effective management of HPTDC hotels and restaurants, alongwith regular maintenance and optimal utilisation of the properties.'
In the meeting, Sukhu directed officers to further improve service across HPTDC properties and explore the possibilities of leasing out vacant properties on an operation and maintenance basis to private players. He also lauded the purchase agreement between HPTDC and Food and Civil Supplies Corporation for the supply of materials to HPTDC hotels including ration, groceries and other essential items. Meanwhile, expansion projects of Kangra, Shimla and Bhuntar airports to provide better air connectivity to the tourists were also reviewed in the meeting.
HPTDC chairperson RS Bali said, 'We have decided to shift the office of HPTDC from Shimla to Kangra in view of various reasons, including to decongest Shimla. The CM has agreed on this. There will be a zonal office of the corporation in Shimla.'
Sukhu also reviewed various projects of the tourism department and directed to expedite those to yield maximum revenue. He said that the state is investing Rs 2,415 crore to develop better infrastructure, wayside amenities and promote other adventure sports activities to attract tourists in the state. He instructed the Tourism department to provide food vans to the local people and commence Hop-on, Hop-off luxury bus rides on local tourism routes in the state.
Sukhu asked the department to complete the construction work of Shivdham in Mandi district at the earliest and beautification works in Renuka lake area to make these more bewitching to the tourists. He also instructed the officers for the swift operationalization of the heliports to improve air connectivity to various hill stations of the State. Chairman HPTDC Raghuvir Singh Bali, MLA Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, Director Tourism Vivek Bhatia, OSD to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma and other senior officers also attended the meeting.