HPTDC to shift corporate office to Kashmir House in Dharamshala

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has officially moved its corporate office from Shimla to Dharamshala. According to a notification issued by the state’s department of tourism and civil aviation on Monday, the new office will now be housed in Kashmir House, which is an HPTDC property located in Dharamshala’s Kangra district.

The move takes place with immediate effect, and the Kashmir House building will serve as the temporary corporate office until a permanent space is finalized in the future.

This decision comes following earlier approval by the board of directors of HPTDC. In April, the board gave the green signal to shift the head office from Shimla to Kangra district. Now, the formal government notification confirms that the move has been implemented.

Why the shift was made

As per the notification, the government, with the approval of the governor, has officially transferred the HPTDC corporate office to Dharamshala. The reason for selecting Kashmir House as the temporary base is its availability and the fact that it is already a functioning HPTDC property. This ensures there will be no need to rent or construct a new building immediately, which helps save both time and money.

The Kashmir House has the space and infrastructure to serve the needs of the HPTDC office staff for the time being. It is expected to function fully as the main office until the government makes a permanent arrangement for a new office building.

Dharamshala, being one of the top tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, is seen as a suitable location for the HPTDC’s central office. It is closer to key tourist spots in Kangra district and provides better accessibility to regions like Palampur, Bir Billing, McLeodganj, and others.

Reactions and what’s next

The relocation of the HPTDC office from Shimla to Dharamshala marks a significant administrative change. Shimla, the state capital, has long been the hub of tourism administration. However, officials believe that moving the office to a more tourism-centric district like Kangra can help improve coordination and development in key tourist zones.

Some staff members may require time to adjust to the relocation. Travel and shifting logistics for employees could also be a short-term challenge. But overall, the move is expected to bring better regional balance and development opportunities to lower Himachal areas.

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The government has not yet specified a timeline for when a permanent office space will be ready. For now, Kashmir House will be the center of HPTDC’s operations in the state.

The decision is also being seen as part of the state government's larger plan to promote tourism evenly across regions, not just around Shimla and Manali. With Kangra growing in popularity for both domestic and international tourists, having the HPTDC head office in Dharamshala could make tourism planning and execution more efficient.

In conclusion, the transfer of the HPTDC office to Kashmir House in Dharamshala is a practical step that reflects the state's shifting focus toward decentralizing tourism management. While it may take a few months to see the full impact, this move is expected to bring administrative convenience and better coordination to one of Himachal’s most visited districts.