STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal (JPVM), an apex body of more than 30 tourism related organisations, conducted elections on 16th of May, 2016 and unanimously elected Inderjeet Khajura as Chairman, Rajesh Gupta as President and Rajeev Gupta as General Secretary. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Chairman Inderjeet Khajuria said that the main focus of Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal is on neglect of tourism in Jammu and every possible effort shall be made to make Jammu as independent tourist destination. He further said that all the existing popular religious places of historical importance including Jamwant Guffa, Peerkho; Raghunath Temple; Pehla Darshan Kol Kandoli; Kali Mata Temple, Bahu Fort; Sheeshmehal Mandir on Tawi Bridge; Aquarium, Bagh-e-Bahu; Rajinder Park, Canal Road; Bagh-e-Bahu; Balidan Stambh, Bahu Fort Road; and Border Tourism Suchetgarh are required to be upgraded and developed to the extent that the places become point of tourist attraction. The need of hour is that the said places must attain the level of tourist attraction for which wide publicity is required to be given by installing hoardings and flexes at every important places in general and at Lakhanpur to Jammu and Katra to Jammu in particular. Expressing the serious concern over the delay caused in the completion of pipeline Jammu tourism projects, he said that to make Jammu an independent tourist destination, these projects which includes Artificial Lake Project on Tawi River; Jammu Cable Car Project; Upgradion of Manda Wild Life Sanctuary to level of national Zoo; Mubarak Mandi heritage Complex; and Development of Jammu General Bus Stand including parking, are required to be given top priority, so that these are commissioned at the earliest. He said that upgradation of Jammu Airport to the international level and improvement of Jammu Railway Station are necessary to make Jammu as independent tourist destination. Khajuria said that Shri Amarnath Yatra 2016 is being commenced from 2nd July, 2016 and there is need for development of Yatri Niwas Base Camp at Bhagwati Nagar, which requires renovation and expansion with all facilities to the Yatris staying in the camps.
He also appealed to Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh who happens to be In-charge Minister of Urban Development Department to immediately release the balance amount in the favour of NBCC so that hotels get sewerage connections.
