Himachal Hikes Rest House Rates to Ease Cash Crunch
Facing a sharp cut in central funds, the Himachal Pradesh government is turning to its network of guest houses to help fill a widening hole in its budget.
The state, reeling from the withdrawal of a nearly ₹10,000 crore annual grant from the Union Government, has announced a significant increase in room tariffs for its 282 Public Works Department (PWD) rest houses and 21 circuit houses.
The new rates, which took immediate effect in late January, introduce a three-tier system and differentiate between local and out-of-state guests.
· For Popular Destinations (Class-A): Located in tourist hotspots and district headquarters, these 33 rest houses will now charge locals ₹800 for an AC room and ₹600 for non-AC. Visitors from outside Himachal will pay ₹1,000 (AC) and ₹800 (non-AC).
· For Spiritual Hubs (Class-B): Covering 59 rest houses near prominent temples and sub-divisional towns, rates are set at ₹700/₹500 (AC/non-AC) for Himachalis, and ₹900/₹700 for others.
· For Other Locations (Class-C): The largest category, with 190 rest houses, will charge locals ₹600/₹400 and non-locals ₹700/₹500.
Circuit houses, often used for official stays, have seen similar hikes, with the highest rate now at ₹1,200 per night for an AC room for non-residents.
While officials describe the move as a necessary step to ease fiscal pressure, critics point to it as a clear sign of the tough financial squeeze the state is navigating after the loss of its crucial annual grant. For travelers and officials alike, a stay in Himachal’s government accommodations will now come with a steeper price tag.
