Gulmarg, May 28
Asserting that Gulmarg was developing as “an international destination for tourists”, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today inaugurated the second phase of the Gulmarg Gondola cable car project. With the opening of the 2.65-km-long second phase from Kongdori to Apharwat, at a height of 13400 ft, it became the world’s highest and Asia’s longest ropeway of over 5 km in length aimed at attracting international skiers to this scenic spot.
“I hope this will usher in a new era of tourism in our state”, Mufti Sayeed said while declaring the second phase open here this afternoon. He said due to the ongoing peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, and with the relations between India and Pakistan improving, a new atmosphere had been set in motion. “This developing atmosphere would encourage investments in the tourism sector” in the state, the Mufti pointed out.
The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan in the tourism sector of the state was aimed at developing tourist villages to benefit the common man. He said there was need for boosting the economy of the people living in and around scenic spots and developing infrastructure around these sports to attract more and more tourists to benefit more and more people.
Referring to the peace process and opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, Mr Mufti Sayeed said it had an instant, positive and direct impact on the flow of tourists. He added that there was a heavy rush of tourists to the valley with all flights between Srinagar and Delhi having been fully booked till the end of June. Two additional flights had now been introduced to overcome the heavy rush, he said. The Chief Minister sought additional flights during the months ahead to overcome the rush of tourists during the Amarnath Yatra, beginning June 21.
The Chief Minister said the atmosphere of peace was gaining momentum, with “political leaders” getting to board the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus after it had been started for the divided families across the LoC. The Mufti held that he had been informed about the visit of tour operators from Pakistan in July this year, saying that “they are nostalgic” to visit here.
Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, Tourism Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister of State for Tourism, Jugal Kishore, and other senior officers of the Tourism Department were present on the occasion. The Tourism Minister, said with the available infrastructure, there was need for promoting the tourism potential in the state. “Our policy is tourism promotion to promote economic standards of the people”, Mir said.
Mr Farooq Ahmad Shah, Managing Director of the State Cable Car Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), said the second phase was completed at a cost of Rs 14 crore. “This will give a boost to the prospects of winter sports and will be a great attraction for international skiers. The second phase from Kongdori, at the height of over 9000 ft, runs over 18 towers covering a distance of 2.65 km to Apharwat, at the height of 13400 ft.
