By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Eight months after the authorities identified the land for the construction of Tourist Reception Center (TRC) Pahalgam and prepared a detailed project report (DPR), the project is yet to see any further progress.
Pertinently, the old TRC building in Pahalgam was destroyed in a massive blaze in 2014 and since then the major tourist destination remains without TRC, thus not only causing inconvenience to the tourists but creating a bad impression among them as well.
Initially, the Pahalgam Development Authority failed to identify the land, which delayed the construction of the new TRC for several years.
The authorities identified 13 kanals of land near Nunwan belonging to tourism department for the purpose and subsequently submitted a DPR last year.
However, after the identification of the land and submission of DPR, the project has not seen any further progress.
Sources within the department said that the file with regard to the DPR of the project continues to await the approval of the top authorities, thus delaying the further steps in this regard.
“For several years, the delay in the construction was to some extent justified due to the non-availability of the land. Now that, the land stands identified for the purpose but the authorities continue to sit over the file for unknown reasons,” sources said.
Interestingly, TRC Pahalgam at present functions from a small hut at the same site identified for its construction. The hut, according to officials, is too small to be used for the purpose.
“TRC should have a spacious reception hall, JKTDC counter, information counter, cafeteria and registration counter but the hut where the TRC functions at present, is too small to offer these facilities to tourists. It is a joke in the name of TRC,” said an official.
Meanwhile, repeated attempts by this reported to contact Commissioner Secretary and Director Tourism, failed.
