Adequate facilities for devotees during Navrataras :Bhalla

Jammu, March 17 (Scoop News) – Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation,  Raman Bhalla today convened a meeting of the stake holders to sort out certain issues to ensure adequate   public transport services from   Jammu airport.

Managing Director, SRTC,  J S Tondon, Director, Jammu Airport,  M Suresh, besides representatives of Jammu Airport Taxi Operators Association attendant the meeting.

            The meeting discussed threadbare the schedule of the services from airport for various categories of transport operators and suggested measures for further streamlining of the service from the airport to various places generally visited by the passengers after de-boarding  at the airport.

Responding to the demand of Taxi Operators,  Bhalla, on behalf of Chief Minister and Minister for Transport,  Qamar Ali Akhoon assured them that their projected demands would be mitigated on priority basis. He asked them to provide better transport services to pilgrims and tourists round the clock, especially to those who come to visit Katra for darshan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Holy cave.

Regarding waiving off entry tax   of taxi operators at the airport, the Minister asked the Director Jammu Airport to look into the demand and do everything that could benefit the Taxi operators.

The Minister said that the coalition Government was making all out efforts to strengthen the transport facilities in the State for the convenience of lakhs of tourists and pilgrims who are visiting the State every year from across the world. He said that the pilgrims visiting the state, particularly those who come to seek the blessing of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi are a great source of income to the people of the state. 

            To boost pilgrim tourism,  Bhalla said the State is being developed in all respects to showcase it as a major attraction for the devotees and tourists adding that Government has initiated various steps to create adequate infrastructure at all places of religious importance for the convenience of the visiting devotees.

            He said these include  wayside facilities like shops, taxi, buses parking slots, waiting hall and public convenience on available.  

The Minister further said the Government is also embarking on a plan to develop the historical places in twin capital cities of the State and its peripheral towns, adding that the development of famous Shri Bawe Wali Mata shrine is one of the major project in this direction. He hoped that these would become a source of attraction for the devotees and help in diverting the  Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji pilgrims to other parts of State during forthcoming Navratras starting from April 04.

Earlier, the Minister visited Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar to inspect the ongoing repair and renovation works of examination hall and toilet block for which Government has earmarked Rs. 15 lakh.    He also inspected the upgradation work of lane and drain near Hem Raj house in Gandhi Nagar, for which Rs. 6.40 lakh has been approved.

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