Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked authorities to focus on making Patnitop a complete destination to raise the footfall at the famous hill-top tourist resort in Udhampur district,
The chief minister emphasised on developing areas like Sanasar, Mantalai and other spots to make up for the supposed dip in tourist arrivals to Patnitop in view of the operationalisation of Nashri tunnel.
Patnitop along with Kud and Batote towns got bypassed with the inauguration of the Nashri tunnel, India's longest road tunnel with a length of 9.28 km, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April.
"Now efforts should be made to make Patnitop as a complete destination rather than an on-the-way spot on the National Highway," Mehbooba said chairing the 19th meeting of Patnitop Development Authority (GDA) here.
The all-weather tunnel along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reduced the distance between the two cities by 30 km and cut travel time by two hours.
She also directed strengthening of facilities at Patnitop to sustain tourist interest in the place.
"By developing Sanasar, Mantalai, Nathatop and other areas in the catchment of Patnitop the entire tourist circuit in the region gets completed and also tourists visiting the area get added attractions which can raise the footfall at Patnitop," she said.
Mehbooba directed accelerating the pace of work on the ropeway project so that tourists get an added attraction to visit Patnitop.
She also directed immediate up-gradation of road to Sanasar and increasing the number of tented accommodations besides starting a food court and a souvenir market there.
The chief minister directed rolling out of a yearly calendar of activities at Patnitop, procurement of a snow cutter and setting up of a fire station at the earliest.
She also directed release of Rs 50 lakh for developing wayside facilities on Chenani-Patnitop road.
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