Shimla, Feb 7,
Reeling under an acute financial crunch following the withdrawal of nearly Rs 10,000 crore per annum Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the Union Government in the recent General Budget, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has started taking hard fiscal measures to shore up its revenues. One of the immediate steps in this direction is a steep hike in room tariffs of Public Works Department (PWD) rest houses and circuit houses across the state.
As per a notification issued by the PWD on January 30, 2026, the revised tariffs have come into force with immediate effect, superseding earlier orders. The rest houses have been classified into three categories based on location and importance. Class-A rest houses, located at prime tourist destinations, the state capital and district headquarters, will now charge Rs 800 per night for AC rooms and Rs 600 for non-AC rooms from Himachalis, while non-Himachalis will pay Rs 1,000 for AC rooms and Rs 800 for non-AC rooms. There are 33 rest houses in this category.
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In Class-B rest houses, covering prominent temples, spiritual centres and sub-divisional headquarters, the revised tariff has been fixed at Rs 700 (AC) and Rs 500 (non-AC) for Himachalis, and Rs 900 (AC) and Rs 700 (non-AC) for non-Himachalis. A total of 59 rest houses fall under this category.
For Class-C rest houses, situated in other locations across the state, Himachalis will be charged Rs 600 for AC rooms and Rs 400 for non-AC rooms, while non-Himachalis will pay Rs 700 and Rs 500 respectively. This category includes 190 rest houses, taking the total number of PWD rest houses to 282.
The government has also revised tariffs of 21 circuit houses in the state. Himachalis will now pay Rs 900 for AC rooms and Rs 700 for non-AC rooms, while non-Himachalis will be charged Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,000 respectively. All rates are inclusive of taxes.
Officials claim the move is in public interest and aimed at easing fiscal pressure, but critics see it as another sign of the deepening financial stress faced by the state after the loss of RDG support.
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