PURNIMA BISHT | Dehradun
Despite the Uttarakhand government’s aggressive push to boost tourism and open new hospitality ventures across the Char Dham and other key tourist destinations, the State-run Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) continues to suffer due to acute staff shortages and longstanding government neglect.
Official sources revealed that the government has reportedly done no significant recruitment since Uttarakhand’s creation out of Uttar Pradesh, barring the initial phase of hirings decades ago. The GMVN currently operates over 80 properties across the Garhwal region of the State, many of which are struggling to keep pace with growing tourist expectations and rising competition from private players. Last year, the corporation managed to generate a revenue of Rs 40 crore during Char Dham Yatra and tourist season.
This year, it is ambitiously aiming to double that figure to Rs 80 crore. With registrations for the Yatra having commenced on March 20, GMVN has already received over Rs 2.5 crore in bookings and is booked till July 15. Experts in the organisation believe that the GMVN has even greater revenue potential but it is difficult to achieve without serious structural support from the government.
According to the sources, GMVN currently employs around 900 personnel, including approximately 500 permanent employees and 400 on contractual terms. Alarmingly, more than 50 of these employees are reportedly set to retire in 2025 alone, further straining the already limited workforce.
Official sources claim that without at least 300 new recruitments, ranging from hotel managers and regional heads to engineers and administrative staff, GMVN will remain ill-equipped to compete in the modern hospitality landscape. While the State government speaks of tourism as a pillar of Uttarakhand’s economy, its indifference toward GMVN’s operational needs paints a contradictory picture.
Many insiders claimed that with proper staffing and timely upgradation, GMVN has the potential to generate over Rs 100 crore annually and truly become a competitive force in the hospitality sector. Until then, its promise will remain stifled by the government’s apathy and chronic underinvestment, they said.
