Over two decades ago, when Lieutenant General S K Sinha was the Governor, one first heard of the possibility of a ropeway or a cable car being planned some day for Shri Amarnath cave. On July 8, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) is exploring the possibility of creating a ropeway for the specially abled (divyangjan). “We are exploring ways to develop a two-phase ropeway for Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine to facilitate the old aged people and divyangjan,” he said on Tuesday in Srinagar.
Sinha was addressing a meeting of the Tourism Secretaries of various Union Territories (UTs) being held in scenic Srinagar. It is not clear at what stage of development and planning this proposal to create a ropeway is, but LG Sinha’s speaking about it in public means that serious discussions are on regarding this project. It is likely that this ropeway will be created on the Baltal side in the Ganderbal district.
Incidentally, Srinagar city boasts of the Dal Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, and the incomparable Mughal Gardens, including Shalimar and Nishat. The establishment of Tulip Garden on the foothills of Zabarwan and its opening in March 2008 have added a new attraction to many who were already there.
In his address, Sinha said the UT of J&K has made remarkable progress on the path to development and is now a preferred tourist destination globally. “This conference is a befitting reply to terrorism and reflects J&K’s march towards peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.
Highlighting the phenomenal transformation of J&K’s tourism sector over the last few years, he said: “God has truly been generous to J&K. This land, adorned with snow-capped peaks, shimmering lakes, apple-laden orchards, temples and rolling meadows, is a living canvas of natural beauty, spirituality and peace.’’
He said the government has strengthened traditional tourism circuits and expanded tourism’s horizons by adding many new destinations which had remained unexplored. We have ensured benefits of tourism reach every corner of J&K UT and transform lives. “The people here and their warm hospitality makes J&K a truly fascinating tourist destination,” Sinha said.
The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Srinagar was a defining moment in the UT’s history and helped in building the brand J&K in global tourism sector, he said. Sinha reiterated the administration’s commitment to promote sustainable tourism, under the SPREAD (Strategic Promotion and Revamping of Emerging Alternate Destinations in J&K).
“Our aim is to bring nine emerging destinations on the national-international tourism map and provide direct employment to at least five people in the first year and these destinations will be able to attract high value tourists,” Sinha hoped.
He stressed that the tourism sector can flourish only in a peaceful and secure environment. “In J&K, security forces have a huge role in ending terrorism, but the role of society is also no less. Terrorists’ attempt to draw their sustenance from society should be foiled. Protests by ordinary Kashmiris against Pakistan-backed terrorists is a good sign,’’ he said.
V. Vidyavathi, Union Secretary, Tourism; Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General, Tourism; Gyan Bhushan, Senior Economic Advisor, Tourism, Praveen Kumar Rai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Tourism Secretaries, officials from Government of India and UT administration, panellists and experts attended the event. There were discussions with stakeholders as to how tourism can be promoted in the UTs.
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