Travel agents, tour operators to be roped in
*People to be encouraged to start home-stay facilities
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 12: A multi-pronged strategy has been chalked out by the Reasi district administration and the Tourism Department in collaboration with the Northern Railways and other stakeholders to promote world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab River and Anji Khad bridge as major tourist attractions. Moreover, people living in the vicinity of these architectural marvels will be encouraged to offer home-stay facilities for the visitors.
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The move follows the directions from Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, who visited the area in the month of April this year. During his tour, he called for their immediate inclusion of both bridges in the region’s core tourism circuit, highlighting their engineering excellence and picturesque settings as assets deserving global recognition.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Reasi district administration has identified suitable land near the Chenab River bridge at Kauri and the same will be utilized by the Tourism Department to develop infrastructure and visitor amenities.
A database of travel agents and tour operators has also been compiled, and consultations will be held in the coming days to design a tourism circuit that includes the two bridges as well as natural attractions such as Chinkah Valley.
“The Reasi district administration has also decided to encourage people living in the vicinity of these bridges to offer home-stay facilities to the visitors as this will not only promote both the places at tourist destinations but also improve the economy conditions of the people”, sources further said, adding “more such measures are also being planned so that steps are initiated on the ground with active involvement of all the stakeholders as early as possible”.
Similarly, Directorate of Tourism Jammu has formally approached the Northern Railways for opening of Tourist Information Centre near the museum being developed near Kauri Bridge to narrate the story of the highest railway bridge’s construction and significance. Additionally, a request has been made for allotment of space in the museum for promotion of tourist destinations of entire Jammu region, sources further informed.
To further enhance the visitor experience, the Directorate of Tourism has planned to install LED screens at key points around the museum and Northern Railways’ cafeteria near Kauri Bridge. These screens will display documentaries on regional tourist attractions, offering immersive content and motivating tourists to explore more destinations within the area, sources further said.
The Northern Railways has agreed to these proposals, though implementation on the ground will begin once the museum and related infrastructure are completed.
Additional promotional activities are also in the pipeline with the Tourism Directorate finalizing a detailed action plan expected to be launched before the formal handover of completed infrastructure from the executing agency to Northern Railways’ commercial wing.
Once operational, these new tourism offerings are expected to seamlessly integrate with existing pilgrimage routes. Pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine and Shri Shiv Khori Shrine can easily be diverted to Anji Khad and Chenab Rail bridges. This would not only diversify the tourism offerings of the area but also serve as a catalyst for local economic development, generating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the local youth.
“A large-scale promotional campaign has also been planned through informative signage and display boards that will highlight the technological and structural brilliance of both the bridges. By doing so, visitors would not only gain insights into the engineering prowess behind these projects but would also develop a sense of national pride and appreciation for the infrastructural advancements being made across the country”, sources said.
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