STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A delegation of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, led by its President Arun Gupta and accompanied by Anil Gupta (Senior Vice President) and Rajesh Gupta (Secretary), met Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, in New Delhi. Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament, was also present. The delegation highlighted various issues affecting trade, industry, and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Arun Gupta raised concerns about the alleged harassment of hoteliers in Patnitop due to CBI cases filed on dubious grounds, requesting Dr. Singh’s intervention for a swift resolution. He also discussed challenges faced by arms and ammunition dealers due to the conversion of licenses to Form VIII, which has halted their operations and led to the sealing of their premises. Gupta urged Dr. Singh to take up the matter with the Union Home Secretary to provide relief to these dealers.
Dr. Singh facilitated the delegation’s meeting with the Union Minister for Railways, Information Broadcasting, and Tourism. During the interaction, Arun Gupta expressed gratitude for the decision to develop Jammu as a Railway Division, emphasizing its potential to streamline train operations and create local employment. He also proposed establishing a Rail Coach Repair Factory in Jammu to support ancillary units and generate jobs. Additionally, he suggested starting a daily direct train between Jammu and Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela.
On broadcasting, Gupta advocated for a full-fledged Duggar Channel in Jammu, similar to the Kashir Channel in Srinagar, to promote the region’s culture and counter negative propaganda. The Railway and Information Minister assured the delegation that these suggestions would be addressed appropriately.
While discussing tourism with the Tourism Minister, Gupta acknowledged the ongoing infrastructural development in J&K but raised concerns about the potential economic impact on Jammu due to the train connectivity to Srinagar and Baramulla. To mitigate this, he proposed a landmark project in Jammu, akin to the Statue of Unity in Ahmedabad, dedicated to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, to boost tourism and the local economy.
Dr. Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma suggested modernizing Surinsar and Mansar to enhance their appeal to tourists. The Tourism Minister assured the delegation that these issues would be addressed and announced plans for a dedicated meeting in Jammu to discuss its development.