Parliamentary panel reviews status of rail, road, aviation projects

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: At the last leg of 3 day visit to Kashmir valley, the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Commits (DRPSC) on transport, tourism and culture, headed by its chairman, T G Venkatesh held a meeting with the officers of civil aviation, tourism, home, Culture, Transport, Railways here on Saturday.
The Committee received brief from the officers of these departments about the status of ongoing and proposed projects.
The committee held a threadbare discussion on initiatives of Central Govt taken for promotion of tourism, road connectivity, railway connectivity, airport expansion, air travel related issues and BRO projects.
The Committee emphasized upon the officers of Transport, railways and civil aviation departments to take concrete steps for safety of passengers besides checking the accidents in their respective jurisdictions.
The officers of NHAI and Railways gave a power point presentation about their ongoing and completed projects.
While briefing about the activities of the Committee during visit, the Chairman said that the Committee would make recommendations to the Central Govt about the issues raised by the officers, stakeholders and common people, who met them during the programme, for immediate necessary action.
Earlier on Jan 21 the Committee held a detailed meeting with senior officers of divisional administration and reviewed the progress of the developmental projects taken up in Kashmir Valley.
The Committee also visited Gulmarg on Jan 22 and had on the spot assessment of tourism related infrastructure and winter sports activities going on there. On the occasion there, the local people from different trades met the members of the committee and apprised them about their difficulties and sought the intervention of the committee. They raised the issue of extension of lease to the hotels, creation of employment opportunities for locals of Srinagar and Gulmarg.

Meanwhile, today morning a delegation of Artists of Kashmir Valley, headed by Mohammad Amin, met the Committee and apprised about the problems they are facing in their profession.
A group of SMC Councillors, headed by Deputy Mayor, SMC also met the Committee and raised certain public issues. They raised the issues of exorbitant air fare being charged by Airways operating in Srinagar especially during winter and blockage of road. They demanded capping of air ticket prices as it directly affects the tourism section as well as the common people of Kashmir. The Committee assured them to take up the matter with the concerned ministries while submitting their report and recommendations.
Joint Secretary Rajya Sabha, J.Sundriyal, Secretary, Tourism, J&K Govt. Sarmad Hafiz, senior officers from Union Ministry of Transport and Highways, Civil Aviation, Railways, Tourism besides Airport Authority of India, BRO and JK Tourism and R&B Departments were present in the meeting.