Jammu, January 16 (Scoop News) – Advisor to Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul on Monday said that the passengers stranded in Jammu due to National Highway closure would be accommodated in the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar.
Interacting with the stranded passengers at bus stand here this afternoon, Gul said that the elderly people besides women and children would be lodged in the yatri Niwas where the facilities of free langer have also been made available. Adequate arrangements are being made for medicare and ensuring health and hygiene in the yatri Niwas.
Minister of State for R&B Javed Ahmad Dar, Divisional Commissioner, Pawan Kotwal, Deputy Commissioner, Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner Municipality, Bhagat, Director Youth services and Sports, J. P. Singh, MD, Transport, Officers of CAPD and Health accompanied the Advisor.
Responding to the demands of passengers, the Advisor said that the Government has taken up with the concerned the matter regarding operation of additional flights between Jammu and Srinagar and pressing into service airforce plans for the convenience of the stranded people. However, this will be possible only when weather condition will improve.
Gul said that the hoteliers of Jammu on their part have offered 20 to 25 % discount for the stranded passengers in hotels and lodges across the Jammu city.
The Advisor inspected the free langer at bus stand and gave instructions for laying further flooring and matting in the lodging space available in the bus stand. Several steps are being taken for making the stay of passengers comfortable within given circumstances and adequate heating arrangements also been put in place.
The Advisor, who has been monitoring the arrangements for stranded passengers on the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the people that all the required steps would be taken for the lodging till the road reopens. He advised them not to proceed to their destinations unless clearance by the competent authority managing the roads is sought. He said men and machinery have been put in service to clear the blockage which has reoccurred due to fresh snowfall and rains.
Gul asked Jammu Municipal Corporation to make available mobile toilets in the bus stand for the facility of standard people.
The Advisor said that Chief Minister is personally monitoring the restoration works, safe meovemnt of passengers and dispatch of supplies to the valley and other areas hit by snow and rains.
Earlier, the Advisor convened a meeting to take stock of arrangements being made for comfortable stay of stranded passengers besides deliberating upon various multipronged strategies to further streamline the functioning of all the departments in this regard.