Govt Takes Over Iconic Royal Park Hotel in Gulmarg After Lease Expiry. : The sealing of the historic Royal Park Hotel in Gulmarg is not a sudden move, officials clarified on Saturday. The action follows the expiry of its 30-year lease agreement in June this year. Chief Executive Officer of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) stated that the step was taken strictly in line with the lease’s terms and government directions. “The lease had expired, and as per conditions, the property has now been taken back into government control,” the CEO confirmed. The Royal Park Hotel, originally owned by the GDA, had been leased to a local businessman nearly two decades ago. Sources revealed that while the lessee had sought an extension, the government declined the request. Subsequently, the GDA team, led by its CEO, formally took possession of the property. The move comes as part of a broader government initiative to reclaim GDA-owned properties that were leased out in the past but have now become commercially valuable and surpassed their lease terms. Local traders’ federations and tourism stakeholders have welcomed the decision, calling it a “step in the right direction.” They stressed that such properties, if managed or auctioned afresh in line with modern tourism practices, could generate significant revenue and enhance Gulmarg’s tourism potential. Stakeholders also urged the government to reclaim all such properties with expired leases and conduct transparent auctions to maximize economic and tourism benefits for the region. visual and btye official CEO GULMARG