Stakeholder pitch for better highway connectivity, boost in tourism sector

Srinagar: Stakeholders from Kashmir on Thursday met a delegation of Parliamentary Standing Committee in Srinagar while demanding better national highway connectivity and boost to the tourism sector in the valley.
The committee who is on a three-day visit to Srinagar and Gulmarg were accompanied by MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and National Conference President and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, Sheikh Ashiq Hussain Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, Industries (KKCI) said, “The first point we made to Parliament Panel was about the situation of National Highway as it is the backbone of every nation and country. And our region has been suffering due to National Highway blockades. The National Highway would remain close for weeks causing immense inconvenience”.
“We have put forth the issue of highway in front of the parliament committee as we needed a forum where can state our issues. As the economy of any nation will suffer due to bad road connectivity and we were assured that this issue will be taken at the highest level”, he added.
Ashiq added, “Also we had put forth our demands with regarding with the budget last year and we are hopeful that feedback will be considered during the allocation of funds as demand. Our demand is to save the current business structure and to promote entrepreneurship. Also, we pitched for a boost in the tourism sector as it has been severely hit and it needs to get back on track as well”.
President Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association Hameed Wangnoo said, “The parliament delegation visit every year to Kashmir and every time stakeholders would put forth their issues to them and then they will point out those problems to the central government. Last year we had put forth our issued, however, those problems were not readdressed”.
“However, this year we have again pointed out everything and we are hopeful that issue related to tourism be it road connectivity and high airfare during the closure of roads will be sorted out earliest. Not only that we also talked about the Houseboat industry how it suffered and what should be done to review it at earliest”, he added.
Wangnoo added, “Also we have given a memorandum to the parliament team and it is up to them how they will respond to all the issues”.
It is pertinent to mention here that members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were also present during the meeting. Senior BJP leader Altaf Thakur while talking to media said, “We put forth two issued to the parliamentary delegation which included better road connectivity and to promote tourism sector”.
He added, “We have seen how the situation turns in winter when the national highway is blocked due to heavy snowfall and price of essential items starts increasing and secondly tourism is the backbone of Kashmir and we want centre government to promote tourism at international level so that it can generate employment as well”.