Tourism remains the lifeline of J&K’s economy, offering vast potential for employment and revenue. However, the prolonged delay in executing tourism-related infrastructure projects due to the slackness of the R&B Department’s engineers poses a serious threat to this vital sector. This inefficiency underscores an urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure timely project completion and efficient resource utilisation. The reorganisation of departmental engineering wings has inadvertently weakened the Tourism Department, leaving it dependent on the R&B Department for project execution. This dependency has resulted in slow progress, untendered projects and incomplete DPRs even as the financial year nears its end. Such delays are compounded by winter conditions, which make it nearly impossible to execute major works. The lack of engineering expertise within the Tourism Department has become a bottleneck. Tourism Development Authorities, tasked with improving tourist facilities and maintaining infrastructure, are left helpless, often struggling to get even minor repairs addressed. This scenario not only hampers the enhancement of tourist experiences but also risks the underutilisation of allocated funds.
The decision to conduct zone-wise reviews by the Administrative Secretaries of Tourism and R&B Departments is a welcome step, but it must be complemented by a structural overhaul. Establishing a dedicated engineering wing for the Tourism Department and its associated authorities is important. Having skilled engineering staff at their disposal would streamline project execution and reduce delays, enabling the department to focus on its core objective-promoting tourism. Moreover, addressing understaffing issues in Town Planning Organizations and Tourism Development Authorities is equally crucial. Without adequate manpower, critical tasks such as updating master plans, monitoring illegal construction and ensuring compliance with development guidelines remain daunting challenges. This can compromise the long-term sustainability and planned growth of tourist destinations. The tourism sector is not just about infrastructure; it reflects the aspirations of the region’s people. Delayed projects erode public confidence and are a bottleneck for premier tourist destinations. A thriving tourism industry requires not just scenic beauty but a seamless visitor experience, built on reliable infrastructure and efficient governance.
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