Jammu, Feb 23: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K Executive Member Raman Suri today said that outsourcing of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation’s (JKTDC) assets including some hotels will, while fetch the government ample revenues and make the places vibrant, special focus should also be laid down on properties located at Jammu, Patnitop, Jhajjar Kotli, Samba, Batote, Chichi Mata, Kud, Mansar, Ramban and even at Akhnoor, which could become potential tourist destinations and tourist spots. Many of these places, he said, are in shambles.
In his statement issued here, Raman Suri said that Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta while chairing the Board of Directors’ meeting of the JKTDC, laid emphasis on the complete utilization of all properties and resources of the corporation as well as directed the department to outsource 12 of its identified properties and 15 newly-constructed infrastructures in consultation with the NITI Aayog. This, Suri said, is indeed a good step but properties like those at Jhajjar Kotli are the most attractive destinations for Jammu people, which must be developed as soon as possible.
Raman Suri said, Jammu Tawi Golf Course (JTGC) and its properties including huts, restaurants, banquet hall should also be opened for non-members and children must be encouraged to take up golf at reasonable prices, so that Jammu and Kashmir could produce the best golfers in the coming days. The JTGC, he said, is confined to a small section of the polulation, which is why we are not able to produce golfers of national and international levels and the club has become more of an entertainment place than a sporting area.
The BJP leader said, many of the JKTDC properties including Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) at Residency Road, Jammu need renovation and proper maintenance to bring them at par with any other private property before putting them to proper use. This huge complex at Residency Road can be developed into a state-of-the-art tourist facility if attention is paid towards this location. He hoped that such properties are amongst the ones meant for outsourcing, so that Jammu could get some real good tourist destinations.
He added that Jhajjar Kotli, once very popular for its rivulet and splendid lawns, was the most visited site by tourists. However, Jammu’s nearest tourist destination was completely cut off from all sides when the four-lane project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) made engineers raise road level by several feet above ground and build a new highway, leaving this natural tourist spot quite inaccessible to the visitors. The Government must construct an approach road to this site as well as develop the area well before summers to make it a vibrant place once again.
