‘Improve condition of roads in pilgrim, border towns’
Suggests efficient way of funds release to check delay in projects
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 29: In order to give much-needed boost to the tourism promotion in Jammu and Kashmir, Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism and Culture has recommended a slew of measures to the Union Government which include effective way of releasing funds, keeping air fares under reasonable limit and starting tourist trains from all metro cities of the country.
The Committee, which tabled its report in the Rajya Sabha few days back after paying visit to the State and holding detailed deliberations with all the stakeholders, has observed that seasonality of the State along with the other variables is contributing to the delay in the completion of the projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The time-table followed by the Union Ministry of Finance towards funding various activities in the State may not be conducive to the peculiarities of the region”, the Committee has further observed.
It has recommended that the Union Tourism Ministry, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and other stakeholders should impress upon the Union Ministry of Finance to chalk out a plan to ensure a more sustainable and efficient way of releasing funds to the Jammu and Kashmir for timely completion of projects.
Concerned over exorbitant air fares particularly during peak tourist season, which is creating hurdles in promotion of tourism, the Committee has recommended that necessary measures must be taken to keep the air fares for Jammu and Kashmir during peak tourist season under reasonable limit.
“The number of flights from Srinagar to Leh and from Srinagar to Kargil should be increased so as to minimize the difficulties of people of Ladakh region and to encourage tourists to visit these places”, the Committee said in the report, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ladakh region comprising of Leh and Kargil districts remains cut off from the rest of the State and country during the winter because of closure of Zojila Pass due to massive snow and air service is the only alternative for to and fro journey. However, the exorbitant air fares remain an issue for the people of both these districts.
Every year the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil raise the issue of exorbitant air fares but till date no measures have been taken by the Union Government to keep the fares within reasonable limit. It is hoped that the recommendations of the Parliamentary Panel will be taken seriously by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.
Keeping in view the mountainous terrain and the frequency of landslides in the State, the Committee has recommended that Pawan Hans Services may be further augmented by pressing additional helicopters into service for tourist facilitation particularly to lesser known destinations like Gurez, Bangus, Kishtwar and Kargil.
“UDAN scheme should also be devised in such a manner so as to connect Srinagar with other major cities especially in the peak tourist season”, the Committee has further recommended.
It has also suggested that tourist trains may be introduced in Jammu and Kashmir from various metros of the country. “The Ministry of Tourism must coordinate with the Ministry of Railways for better railway connectivity with the State besides operating additional tourist trains from all metro cities to Jammu and Kashmir”, the Committee said.
It has further recommended that the Ministry of Tourism must coordinate with the Ministry of Railways to facilitate the speedy completion of Vistadome Coaches. These coaches, with the glass tops, would be a wonderful addition to the railway services particularly in the Kashmir valley by giving its passengers a 360 degree view of the surroundings.
Laying stress on improving the condition of roads in Jammu and Kashmir, the Parliamentary Panel said, “the Ministry of Tourism must impress upon the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to expedite the up-gradation of Jammu-Srinagar Highway which otherwise is long pending”.
“Moreover, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways must also coordinate with the concerned State departments in order to ensure that the roads including the National Highways are properly maintained, signage are put in place and to ensure that fluorescent safety markers are installed along the roads to reduce the incidence of accidents”, the Committee said.
Observing no timelines or follow-up mechanism for the works related to connectivity, the Committee said, “the delay in completion of projects increases the costs and woes of the people as such an effective mechanism be put in place to ensure that respective Ministries take these recommendations seriously and come up with specific and concrete timelines to follow up on the progress made and funds utilized”.
It has also recommended that the Ministry of Tourism should impress upon the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the J&K Government to improve road infrastructure in pilgrim and border towns where existing roads are unable to cater to the ever increasing vehicular movement.
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