J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

TRC to be reconstructed
Srinagar, May 11
While the government is keen to have a “successful tourism” in Kashmir this season, it still has to go a long way to restore its face, Tourist Reception Centre, that was destroyed in a suicide attack on April 6.

Kashmir traders call off anti-VAT strike
Srinagar, May 11
Traders in Kashmir today called off their strike against the value-added tax regime implemented in the state from April 1. In a statement here, the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation called off the strike till next announcement.

4 killed, 33 injured in Kathua bus accident
Jammu, May 11
Four persons were killed and 33 injured when the bus in which they were travelling overturned at Satwain, near Lakhanpur, in Kathua, about 90 km from here, on the Jammu-Pathankot road today.

TRC to be reconstructed
Tribune News service

Srinagar, May 11
While the government is keen to have a “successful tourism” in Kashmir this season, it still has to go a long way to restore its face, Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), that was destroyed in a suicide attack on April 6.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has invited tenders from reputed architects and agencies for the plans to reconstruct the complex. Its reconstruction and completion, according to the Tourism Minister, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, is expected to take a long time. He said that efforts were on to reconstruct the complex with all facilities required for a good tourist complex. “This site is the first to catch the eyes of a tourist to the valley”, he commented and added that it would be made “even more beautiful”.

Like in the old TRC complex, the new complex, for which tenders have been invited, would include all related facilities to the tourists, ranging from bookings for hotel accommodation to the transportation. This would include booking of hotel rooms and houseboats at the centre and hotels at other tourist spots of the valley, transport facilities, air and railway reservation etc. The old complex housed the offices of the Tourism Department, Tourist Police, J&K Tourism Development Corporation (J&KTDC) with its Wazwan restaurant, State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), Fisheries Department, Indian Airlines booking office, Railway reservation counter, and a branch of the J&K Bank. “These were all allied offices of the tourism sector, which need to be restored soon’, said a tour operator.

As the rubble of damaged structure is being cleared, the memories of the heritage structure of the complex continue to haunts many people, particularly those directly or indirectly associated with the tourism.

“It has been a big blow to tourism in Kashmir”, said Mr Nazir Ahmad Bakshi, a travel tour operator, as he referred to the burning of the structure, for which the government has ordered an enquiry. At the very outset the incident led to the cancellation of a multi-national meet here that was aimed at boosting tourism in Kashmir at the international level, he commented.

When the new structure comes up, in about a couple of years, with modern techniques, it may not be the same in its structure and grandeur, is the general opinion here.

Kashmir traders call off anti-VAT strike

Srinagar, May 11
Traders in Kashmir today called off their strike against the value-added tax (VAT) regime implemented in the state from April 1.

In a statement here, the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) called off the strike till next announcement.

It also asked the traders to resume their business activities from today.

The KTMF reiterated its commitment to fight against the implementation of VAT and sought immediate abolition of what it called the ‘’cruel’’ regime.

The police had used batons and water canons to disperse a large number of protesters. — UNI

4 killed, 33 injured in Kathua bus accident

Jammu, May 11
Four persons were killed and 33 injured when the bus in which they were travelling overturned at Satwain, near Lakhanpur, in Kathua, about 90 km from here, on the Jammu-Pathankot road today.

Police sources said the accident took place when the brakes of the bus failed and it overturned in the middle of the road.

Three persons were killed on the spot, while one succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

The injured were admitted to the several hospitals. — UNI