Tourists are our brand ambassadors: Dir Tourism

Srinagar:  Department of Tourism Kashmir in collaboration with Cultural Academy organised a cultural event for the group of tourists from South India who are currently holidaying in Kashmir.

A single group of around 60 people are currently holidaying in Kashmir and visited Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Srinagar so far where they enjoyed the natural beauty and had a good interaction with the locals.

The cultural programme was organised to welcome the group and also give them a taste of local culture.

The group leader Tanveer Ahmad from Delhi hailed the department for such an initiative saying it would not only promote local culture but also give evening entertainment avenues to the tourists.

“We are happy to have travelled to Kashmir for holidaying with a big group. All group members fully enjoyed the trip. We were welcomed by the locals and service providers everywhere and entertaining them with evening cultural programme has further added to our beautiful moments here and we will leave with beautiful memories,” he said.

Srinivasan from Chennai said they had a great time at all places blessed with natural blessings.

He said he would like to come here again along with the family members.

“Kashmir Valley is a must-visit place for every traveller. Every spot here is beautiful. A traveller has a lot to see here in Kashmir,” he said.

Director Tourism Kashmir Dr G N Itoo said this is one of the largest groups here in Kashmir after Covid19 and we are ready to welcome them and show them our hospitality.

“The tourists are our brand ambassadors and we try to provide them every facility so that they leave back with rich memories,” he said.

Calls for replicating best practices, adopting latest available IT interventions

Jammu:  Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Nitishwar Kumar Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the progress of Jammu Smart City projects here at Raj Bhavan.

Deputy Commissioner Jammu, and CEO Jammu Smart City Limited, Sushma Chauhan; Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Avny Lavasa; VC, Jammu Development Authority, Babila Rakwal; Additional CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited, Satish Kumar Sharma; Team Leader JSCL – PMC, Pushpendra Srivastava and other representatives of concerned departments and agencies remained present during the meeting.

At the outset, the CEO of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) gave a detailed presentation regarding the completed projects, to-date status of the projects under the implementation stage, and the ones likely to be started soon.

Kumar was apprised about the current status of projects with IT interventions including Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), Smart Poles, Ad Panels, ITMS, Smart Cards, Display Panels and e-Bill Pay for civic services.

The Principal Secretary expressed satisfaction on the timelines for various projects undertaken and called for maintaining inter-departmental synergy to facilitate the timely completion of the ongoing Smart City projects.

“It is imperative to follow strict timelines of the projects, especially in view of forthcoming Monsoon season”, he said.

He also impressed upon the officers to lay special focus on replicating the best practices of Smart Cities across the country and to adopt the latest available IT-based technological interventions.

The Principal Secretary directed the concerned officers to explore the feasibility for developing new parking spaces across the city, particularly in congested markets, after due consultation with all stakeholders.

He also suggested that JMC and JDA should explore the possibility of tying up with the prominent local artists and Art Schools in the city and engage them in painting murals and other socially responsible messages on the retaining walls which would enhance the aesthetics of the city.

Srinagar: All Jammu and Kashmir Transporters Welfare Committee – an amalgam of various transport associations— on Wednesday called off its indefinite strike in J&K.

General Secretary, Kashmir Welfare Transporters Association, Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf, said the decision to call of the strike was taken after government decided to increase fare by 19%.

The decision, he said, was taken at a meeting with Finance Commissioner, Finance Department, Arun Kumar Mehta, who is chairman of Fare and Freight Committee also comprising Transport commissioner. The meeting was also attended Commissioner Secretary Transport, Hardesh Kumar besides Transport Commissioner and other officials at Civil Secretariat this afternoon.

“The government in principle agreed to our all demands. The government and our representatives agreed on 19% increase in fare,” he said, adding, “Also our two other demands—roll back of token tax and waiver of token tax during lockdown period—would be decided with transport commissioner.”

Following the successful talks, Sheikh Mohammad Yousuf said that transporters have decided to call off the indefinite strike.  The official confirmation for 19% fare hike was awaited when this report was filed.

A senior officer said the department was yet to finalize any particular hike but it has been agreed upon.

The official said a formal order in this regard would be issued once the Administrative Council approves the proposal in coming days.

The Association had demanded revision of the transport fares amidst the skyrocketing of the petroleum prices during the past few years.

The Association had also demanded roll back of tax for the lockdown months.  (GNS)

Srinagar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided a car showroom in the summer capital, Srinagar, outskirts.

Official sources said the ED sleuths raided a Tata Motors showroom, belonging to Mohammad Saleem Bakshi, at Parimpora in Srinagar outskirts with the help of security and police personnel.

“The forces were deployed in strength in the area in the morning before conducting the raid,” they said.

They said it was not immediately clear why the raid was being conducted.

Jammu: A chopper carrying senior government officials on Wednesday made an emergency landing at the Ram Leela ground of Reasi district.

Police sources here said that one Pawan Hans chopper on Wednesday morning made emergency landing at Jyotipuram area of Reasi.

They said that the chopper carrying a senior government official of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj J&K, who was going from Jammu to Kishtwar, had to make an emergency landing at Ram Leela Ground, Jyotipuram due to some technical fault.

“All passengers are safe while the snag is being looked after by the operators,” police added.

Jammu: Three shops were damaged in a mysterious blaze that broke out in Nagbal area of Mendhar area, officials said on Wednesday.

Officials said fire broke out in one of the shops in the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday in Nagbal areas of Mendhar in Banihal.

“A fire fighting operation was launched and flames were prevented from spreading to other shops in the market,” officials said.

They said three shops were damaged in the blaze and the cause of fire is being ascertained—(KNO)