Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Feb 21: Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Kashmir, continues to operate without a Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) more than eight years after the old building was destroyed in a massive fire.
Pahalgam is known for its scenic beauty, lush green forests, and gushing rivers. It has been a go-to destination for tourists from around the world. However, the lack of a TRC has become a cause for concern for tourists and locals alike.
The old TRC building was gutted in a massive blaze in 2014, and since then, no efforts have been made to construct a new TRC. The authorities have failed to take any action despite the demands of the locals and the tourist industry.
Officials privy to the details said that the reconstruction of the TRC in Pahalgam was stalled after the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, asked the Tourism Department to find an alternate location for its construction.
He said that the then Chief Minister had found the current location “unfit” for the TRC as he believed the structure could block the scenic view of mountains. “So, it stalled the reconstruction process,” he said.
However, despite repeated requests from the locals and the tourism industry, no alternate location till been finalized till date, and the TRC remains non-existent. This delay has caused inconvenience to tourists and has affected the tourism industry in Pahalgam.
“Pahalgam is a world-class tourist resort, and thousands of people visit this place to enjoy nature’s beauty. Yet it is regrettable that we lack a TRC, which is essential for a tourism destination. It is regrettable that the government is unable to locate a suitable site for the restoration of the TRC,” Mushtaq Ahmad, a local hotelier said.
The lack of a TRC has also become a hindrance in the promotion of Pahalgam as a winter tourism destination. In recent years, the Government has been making efforts to promote Pahalgam as a winter destination by organizing winter sports activities and festivals. However, without proper infrastructure, such efforts are likely to go in vain.
Stakeholders in the tourism industry have expressed their concern over the absence of a TRC. They have called on the authorities to take immediate action to construct a new TRC in Pahalgam. They believe that the construction of a new TRC will not only facilitate tourists but also give a boost to the local economy. “We do not have a proper place where tourists can come and seek information, and that creates a poor impression,” another hotelier said.
Assistant Director of Tourism in Pahalgam, Bilal Ahmad, told Excelsior that he was unaware of the reasons behind the delay in the reconstruction process but maintained that they had already provided the administration with a full project report.
He, however, added that the TRC is running smoothly at another structure. “Our people are working from a hut at Nunwan. Although fire destroyed the building, it did not affect our work. We are providing all the information to tourists from Nunwan,” the official said.
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