The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has officially shifted its headquarters from Shimla to Dharamshala. Rajiv Kumar, managing director of HPTDC, Monday assumed charge at the new office located in Kashmir House, Dharamshala.
The state government’s decision to relocate the HPTDC headquarters has triggered political reactions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the move, calling it an “arbitrary and politically motivated” step aimed at weakening Shimla’s historical and administrative relevance.
BJP spokesperson Karan Nanda questioned the rationale behind the sudden shift. “This is nothing but a deliberate attempt to erode Shimla’s importance as the tourism and administrative capital. The Congress government is playing regional politics by shifting key institutions to Dharamshala,” he said.
Nanda added that Shimla has traditionally been the hub for tourism operations and administration, with decades of institutional infrastructure, experienced staff, and logistical convenience. “This move will disrupt functioning, create unnecessary confusion, and hamper tourism-related coordination across the state,” he alleged.
However, officials at HPTDC said the decision was part of the state government’s broader decentralisation plan to promote balanced regional development.
