Problems galore for tourism
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) expressed concern over the meager number of tourist arrivals in Jammu and Kashmir especially Kashmir valley as compared to the other states.
The trade body said that out of the 73 lakhs tourists, who visited Jammu and Kashmir during 2017-18, only 13.1 lakh tourists had visited Kashmir including more than 2 lakh yatris visiting the Amarnath cave.
Notably, the same number of tourists were visiting Kashmir even more than thirty years ago. This means that the tourist footfall over the years has dwindled and has not reached a mark that can be termed as satisfactory for the tourism sector.
The summer season is at its peak and at this point of time Kashmir should have been brimming with activity as far as tourist arrivals are concerned.
One concern which is shared by every person either connected to the tourism or other trades, or even a common man is the bad infrastructure that is ruining the prospects of tourism or any other trade in the valley.
One important component of the bad infrastructure is the bad roads that have become quite synonymous with the Kashmir region. The bad experience which one gets of the roads in Kashmir starts right after leaving the Jammu region and entering Kashmir through the arterial Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The condition of this road is so pathetic that it has become a driver’s nightmare to transverse through it. The road which should have otherwise been an eight hour long journey from Udhampur to Srinagar is taking almost two days for commuters to travel on it.
The eventuality that one may end up getting stranded on the highway is too great as the frequent landslides and slipping of the road at many places has become unavoidable owing to the bad maintenance of the all important highway.
The highway troubles notwithstanding, Kashmir region is faced with a crisis like situation as most of the road ways within the valley too are in a dilapidated conditions and despite the fact that summer season has already set in, the administration is caught in deep slumber.
The limited tourists who arrive here complain of bad roads and the bad infrastructure we offer them during their stay here.
No measures are ensured so that the upkeep of vital roads would have been started and the travelers could have witnessed some ease.
The condition of the roads in the valley is so pathetic that trade body, Kashmir Economic Alliance has castigated the government for letting the economy suffer badly owing to the bad roads.
The trade body has alleged that the bad roads are not only hampering normal life but they are also affecting business activities as the roads along market places are in such a bad shape that customers avoid visiting even the City center Lal Chowk and Residency Road.
KV Network
