Pahalgam to be an ace tourist and educational centre: CM

SRINAGAR:
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the famous tourist resort of Pahalgam has a huge potential to be developed as a leisure-cum-education centre on the pattern of Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh.
“Pahalgam will be developed as an all-season destination after its Master Plan is approved by the State Cabinet,” Sayeed said.
The Chief Minister was chairing a high-level meeting called to review the Draft Master Plan for Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Referring to a few established quality schools and institutes that have come up in and around Pahalgam, the Chief Minister called for developing a cluster of mainstream and adventure institutes in the resort to increase its USP.
He stressed on taking up add-on activities like skiing, ropeway from Mammal to Bysaran, mountain biking in Aru and joyrides for children in Pahalgam Amusement Park.
“The tourists will be attracted to Pahalgam if we offer them wholesome entertainment,” he said, directing the Tourism Department to devise a plan to attract visitors to other tourist spots like Aru and Betaab Valley in the winter months.
The Chief Minister issued directions for underground electric cabling and ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the Pahalgam resort so that the visitors don’t face any hassles during their stay.
He said he would visit the resort to identify and assess the feasibility of various tourism infrastructure development projects conceived in the Draft Master Plan. (AGENCIES)