Shelter sheds to be set up for Amarnathji Yatris

Srinagar, May 11 (Scoop News) –   The Governor,  N. N. Vohra, today visited Tourist Reception Centre, Nowgam, near Railway Station, Srinagar, and inspected models of two different types of shelter units and toilets proposed to be installed, by the Tourism Department, at identified places along the tracks to the Cave Shrine, for the protection and safety of Shri Amarnathji Yatris, particularly during adverse weather conditions. These shelter units are proposed to be set up at various locations along both the Yatra routes i.e. Baltal-Holy Cave and Chandanwari-Holy Cave routes. Each shelter unit has been designed to accommodate around 100 Yatris with a provision for storage of disaster management stores.           

The Minister for Tourism and Culture,  Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism and Home,  Nasir Aslam Wani, Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism,  Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary to the Governor,  R. K. Goyal, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir,  A. H. Samoon, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar,  M. A. Kakroo, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam,  Mohammad Rafi, Director Tourism, Kashmir,  Farooq Shah, SSP Srinagar,  S. A. H. Bukhari, Mir Altaf Ahmad, CEO, Pahalgam Development Authority,  Mushtaq Ahmad, CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority, and other concerned senior officers of various Departments were present on the occasion.

The Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, suggested certain modifications in the shelter units, keeping in view the severe fluctuations in the weather conditions along the Yatra routes.

 Jora assured the Governor that a number of shelter units/toilets shall be set up timely at nine identified locations along both the routes, before the commencement of the Yatra.   

Later, the Governor, while addressing a meeting at the Tourist Reception Centre, said that Jammu and Kashmir State is bestowed with unparalleled natural beauty, which has immense potential for promotion of tourism. He said that the infrastructure created for pilgrim tourism could also be utilized, during the most part of the year, for giving a significant fillip to winter and adventure tourism in the State. He also stressed the usefulness of pragmatic packages being involved for the various categories of tourists. He also stressed the need of promoting highway tourism to generate employment avenues.

Referring to the newly constructed Nowgam Tourist Reception Centre, the Governor said that this could become the nerve centre of tourist activity in Kashmir, particularly once the Valley receives rail connectivity with the rest of the country. He went around the Tourist Reception Centre Complex, appreciated the location, design and outlay of this complex. He called for planting flowering plants to make the place more attractive for the visitors.

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