Jammu, November 22(Scoop News)- A joint meeting of representatives of several tourism and pilgrim trade organisations and other stake holders in tourisms, pilgrimage, heritage and other related fields held here today took comprehensive review of the progress of various projects on the subjects underway in Jammu. The meeting was held in the back drop of comprehensive review taken of various development projects in Jammu, chaired by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by concerned ministers and heads of departments.
Commenting on the reported Rs 1088 crore spent out of 1550 crore earmarked for mega projects in Jammu, most of which are related with tourism and heritage, the participants expressed disappointment over slow pace of progress on all these projects. The meeting laid stress on completing these projects at the earliest, to make Jammu city and its surroundings as independent tourist destination, to offset, to some extent, the business in Jammu getting hit as a result of train reaching Katra in near future, as well as opening of Mughal road, linking Rajouri and Poonch districts direct with Kashmir as well as the opening of Santhal road, linking erstwhile Doda district directly with Kashmir valley. As a result of all these projects, which are otherwise welcomed in the over all interest of development of all sub regions of Jammu as well as of Kashmir, yet Jammu city getting by passed, the winter capital city of the state will lose its importance and set back to its business. Hence making Jammu city and its surroundings as independent tourist destination is highly important, it was stressed.
The projects which need immediate attention, and are held up for non availability of funds include artificial lake in river Tawi, Mubark Mandi Heritage Complex, Cable Car between Mubarak Mandi Complex to Bahu Fort and Maha Maya Hill Top, Border roads and development of border tourism at Sochet Garh and development of tourism and heritage projects at Akhnoor.
The participants in the meeting included Inderjeet Khajuria President AJHLA, Ravi Mahajan Chairman Jammu Paryatan Mandal, Kuldeep Vahi President Jammu Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Associations, Ashiq Hussain Khan President Talab Khatikan Hoteliers Union, Madhu Sharma, Ramesh Tak Presidents Bus stand shopkeepers Associations, Ajay Gupta Senior Vice President, H S Manhas Vice President, Pawan Gupta General Secretary, Baldev Raj Treasurer, Vikram Singh Secretary, Sunil Suri Secretary.
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