Uttarakhand has decided to run tourist rest houses (TRHs) and eco-log huts in public private partnership (PPP) mode.
The decision was taken during a review meeting of the tourism department, presided by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna at the secretariat here.
"We today decided some tourist bungalows could run in PPP mode," the state tourism minister, Amrita Rawat, said.
She said initially the department would run 15-20 tourist rest houses in PPP mode. But the chief minister has told it to run the PPP in such a way the private partner could operate at least five tourist houses in a particular area. "We can make packages of 5-5 tourist bungalows for running them on PPP mode," Rawat told Business Standard.
Both Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and Kumaon Mandal VIkas Nigam (KMVN) are running scores of tourist rest houses in different areas in the state for promoting tourism. Due to bad management of the two government-controlled corporations, most of these rest houses are running in losses.
Official sources said the government is working on a plan to give the rest houses on 30 to 40 year lease period.
Meanwhile, expressions of interest (EOIs) are being floated to operate and manage eco log huts in Lansedown hill resort through PPP mode. The newly constructed eco log huts developed by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) are being considered a big attraction since the wood used in these houses has been imported from Europe. Initially, these eco log huts will be given on 10 year lease period which can be extended based on performance of the private partner, official sources said.
