The state government has ordered a steep hike in the room tariff for some rooms in Himachal Bhawan and Himachal Sadan in New Delhi and Chandigarh, and at Willy’s Park in the state capital, from Rs 1,200 to Rs 4,000.As per a latest notification issued by General Administration Department (GAD), the room tariff has been hiked from the present Rs 1,200 to Rs 4,000, inclusive of all taxes. The Congress regime, shortly after assuming office, had hiked the room tariff at Himachal Bhawan and Himachal Sadan in New Delhi and Chandigarh, and at Willy’s Park from Rs 500 to Rs 1,200.The order, going viral on social media, is drawing sharp criticism as people are questioning the astoundingly high hike of over 300 per cent, that too within two years of the earlier hike, which was also over 200 per cent.Although the order does not specify the reason for the hike, the enhancement will apply to a total of 24 rooms only at these four places. The order also mentions that there will be no occupancy by proxy and the manager of the unit must ensure that only those persons in whose name the booking has been done are allowed to stay. The order also mentions that Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) must ensure quality services to the occupants of these rooms.There is invariably a scramble to get GAD bookings at these places in Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. While the option of some rooms being offered under the commercial category is available to anyone in Chandigarh and Shimla, the rooms at Himachal Bhawan and Himachal Sadan in Delhi are given only through GAD booking.