For scores of Himachalis getting accommodation at Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh is a nightmare. First of all the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Himachal Govt. do not issue permits to ordinary people as they cater to the Ministers, MLAs and the IAS class.
These fortunate people get to stay at very low rates, around 80/ for a night. There families can be seen staying at the Bhawan for months! Nothing wrong with that… since they happens to be our mai-baap.
The problem is we junta class types have nowhere to go in Chandigarh. HPTDC, which is responsible for running the Himachal Bhawan, charges Rs. 1500 to 2000 for a night. Now, this is unfair as the politicians and IAS do not even pay 1/10th of what is charged from the junta class.
A search on the Internet takes you to the Chandigarh Tourism website. Himachal Bhawan is listed as a guest house along with Panchayat Bhawan, Punjab and Haryana Bhawan and Circuit House. You don’t get a room for 1500 in a state guest house.
I doubt the Chandigarh administration must have gifted this prime piece of land to be run as a hotel by HPTDC. The land must have been given to Himachal govt to build a guest house for the Himachalis coming into Chandigarh which the govt. after securing accommodation for itself is running as a hotel.
One can see marriages, conferences etc. being organised at the Bhawan. The place is being run like a regular hotel. I hope Chandigarh administration is aware that they have been taken for a royal ride by the Himachal govt. Strangely, Himachal Bhawan is not listed anywhere in HPTDC tourist brochure or the website but is listed under online hotel reservation with availability status page.
Lot many Himachalis visit Chandigarh for entrance and college admissions, medical treatment etc every day. An affordable budget accommodation is required for the convenience of the people and the charges at Himachal Bhawan must be rationalized so that more Himachalis can stay there.
Contact number for Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh: 0172-2642088
E-mail: bhawanchd@hptdc.in
Pingback: Tweets that mention Securing accommodation at Himachal Bhawan Chandigarh | Himachal Live -- Topsy.com