Jammu and Kashmir is known for its natural scenic beauty, which is literally beyond words and imagination. Lakhs of tourists come to see “Paradise on Earth,” all hotels are usually booked for the summer, and there is good foot fall even in the winter. Pahalgam, the location of the famous Betaab Valley in a Bollywood film, is one such destination. It is also the gateway to Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, but eight years later, it is still waiting for a proper Tourist Reception Centre. The old TRC was gutted in 2014, and a new one was planned but put on hold by the then-CM to build in an alternative location. Eight years have gone by, and an alternative place has not been decided until now. Tourism is the backbone of the Kashmir Valley, and many families rely solely on it for a living, so the lack of a proper TRC is a major impediment. Instead of handling tourism and tourists professionally with proper waiting rooms, an inquiry counter, guide rooms, taxi operators’ office, ticketing counters, and all modern amenities, TRC is being operated from a hut at Nunwan. Can a hut be substituted for a proper TRC? All the tall claims of the Tourism department about world-class facilities seem to be on paper only. In this digital age, facilities matter, money doesn’t, and these rickety and frugal arrangements are not going to work. The department must come up with a proper plan and coordinate with other departments to get the alternative land, and a mega TRC should be established. Most Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims require proper guidance and information about other places in Pahalgam and the surrounding area that can be visited in a short period of time. It will play an important role in boosting the local economy. When the GoI and LG Administration are focusing so much on promoting Kashmir, how can such vagaries be allowed? Concerned authorities must expedite the process, and a proper TRC must be convened as soon as possible.
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