Himachal delays new guest house rates until portal upgrade, old tariffs stay

Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Ashish Singhmar, said the enhanced rates for identified rooms will come into force once the Himatithi portal is fully updated to accommodate the changes.

"We have introduced the revised tariff structure as part of efforts to make government accommodations more accessible and transparent. However, the new rates will become operative only after the online portal is updated. Till then, the existing tariffs will continue," Singhmar said.

The government had earlier decided to increase the tariff of 24 rooms from ₹1,200 to ₹4,000 per night under a 20 per cent quota to be opened for online booking by the general public.

Officials clarified that until the technical upgrades in the booking system are completed, the current tariff structure, as notified on February 5, 2025, will remain applicable across all properties, including Himachal Bhawan and Himachal Sadan in New Delhi, Himachal Bhawan in Chandigarh, and Willy's Park Circuit House in Shimla.

Singhmar said the initiative is aimed at streamlining the booking process and eliminating the need for prior approvals. "Earlier, bookings required daily approvals from GAD, but with the online system, people will be able to book rooms directly in a transparent manner," he added.

As part of the rollout, specific rooms at each location have been identified for direct online booking. At Himachal Bhawan in New Delhi, rooms numbered 405, 406, 407, 307, 308, 309 and 310 will be available at the revised tariff. At Himachal Sadan in New Delhi, rooms 303, 304, 101 and 102 have been included under the scheme.

Similarly, at Himachal Bhawan in Chandigarh, rooms 202, 203, 204, 107, 108 and 109 will be offered under the online booking system, while at Willy's Park Circuit House in Shimla, rooms 512, 514, 523, 411 and 414 have been designated for public booking at ₹4,000 per night.

The GAD further detailed that Himachal Bhawan in New Delhi has a total of 50 rooms, out of which 29 are under its control, while Himachal Sadan has 19 rooms, all managed by the department. In Chandigarh, Himachal Bhawan has 29 rooms under GAD, and at Willy's Park Circuit House in Shimla, 49 rooms are managed by the department.

The move is part of the government's broader push to digitise services and ensure better utilisation of public infrastructure. Once operational, the updated portal will allow users to book designated rooms online at the revised tariff, improving ease of access for the general public.

- ANI