Inadequate infrastructure for tourists in Jammu

Inadequate infrastructure for tourists in Jammu Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 11
Though the state and the Central governments are making efforts to attract more tourists to the state,the state lacks the basic infrastructure to promote tourism.

A visit to Jammu-Tawi Railway Station, the bus stand and the Jammu airport showed that all the places did not have adequate infrastructure to facilitate the passengers.
Except for some benches, the railway station which caters to thousands of passengers daily, didn’t have proper sitting arrangements. As a result, the passengers had to sit on the floor while waiting for the trains.
A number of shopkeepers told The Tribune that this was a routine there.
“During Navratras and other festivals, the rush increases manifold, which, in turn, increases the problems of the tourists. The authorities should immediately solve the problem,” said a shopkeeper.
Sumit Sharma, a resident of Haryana, who had come to pay obeisance at the Vaishno Devi shrine said, “I am have been coming here for the past so many years, but nothing has been done in the name of development.The passengers are forced to sit on the floor to wait for their trains.”
However, RN Meena, Divisional Traffic Manager, Jammu, said, “We have adequate sitting arrangements at the railway station, but the passengers prefer to sit on the floor.”
The situation at the bus stand was equally bad.While a large number of passengers were sitting on the floor, others were standing.There was no proper sanitation.
Shopkeepers near the bus stand revealed that during the rain, the place looked like a pond and passengers had to face a lot of problems.
Similarly, the Jammu airport has been awaiting expansion for a long time. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his last visit to the city had assured that the airport would get a facelift shortly.
The passengers coming out of the airport said though the authorities had declared it a high-security zone,they should be allowed to go in with their vehicles so that they could take their luggage easily to the reception.
“This airport is unlike others in the country. One has to come out on the road with the luggage, to get any conveyance,” said Sunny Singh, a resident of Delhi, adding, that the passengers should not be harassed in the name of security.

Problems galore Except for some benches, the railway station which caters to thousands of passengers daily, didn’t have proper sitting arrangements The situation at the bus stand was equally bad.While a large number of passengers were sitting on the floor, others were standing The Jammu airport has been awaiting expansion for a long time. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his last visit to the city had assured that the airport would get a facelift shortly.