Uttarakhand to let tour operators run 44 PWD guest houses

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand tourism department has come up with a plan to give out select public works department (PWD) guest houses in the hills, many of which are of colonial-era vintage and located at scenic spots, to tourism operators, who can then develop them as tourist stay options.
At present, there are 157 guest houses of the PWD across Garhwal and Kumaon, the two main divisions of the Himalayan state. According to the tourism department, 44 of the 157 guest houses have been identified that have not been operational for a long time. Most of these properties are located at picturesque spots and have potential to be developed for tourists.
Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj, who is also the PWD minister, told TOI, “There is a provision to give out a guest house for a fouryear period. We realise this is too short a tenure for anyone who is taking over a property for commercial usage. Hence, we have planned to give out the guest houses for a30-year contract period. ”
He said another project in the pipeline is to develop eateries on girder bridges under PWD which have not been in use.