Tourism stakeholders demand end to national highway mess in J&K

SRINAGAR — Trade and Tourism stakeholders today urged the visiting Parliamentary Standing Committee delegation to press Government for ensuring end of highway uncertainty in the Valley once for all and cheap air-travel for tourism industry to grow.

The stakeholders informed the delegation that frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway is the main reason for “mess” in Valley for tourism sector.

After meeting the delegation, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, Industries (KKCI) President, Sheikh Ashiq Hussain said, “We put across our concerns and suggestions before the committee and are hopeful that they will take it up with the government. We demanded once for all end to the Srinagar-Jammu highway closure.”

“The highway closure triggers mess across the Valley. Whenever highway gets closed, the airfares go high. We urged the MPs to ensure that air travel is made cheaper so that tourists can travel to Kashmir,” he said.

“See despite repeated promises by the previous regimes and officials on improving the highway condition, we see closure of this only road link again and again. We demanded an accountability and punishment to the agencies and officials who fail to meet the deadlines,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP delegation comprising MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and MP Raju Pratab Roddy met the visiting Parliamentary delegation in Srinagar and demanded a permanent resolution to Srinagar-Jammu highway closure and redressal of skyrocketing air fares so that tourism is promoted in Kashmir.

The delegation assured the BJP leaders that they will take up the matter with concerned quarters.