Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today pitched for developing Suchetgarh-Sialkote International Border on the patterns of Wagah in Punjab saying border tourism can act as a meeting point between people from India and Pakistan.
"On the other side it is Sialkote and here it is Jammu. Earlier, when I used to visit this place, people from other side also used to visit this place. It is my desire to develop this place as a tourist destination on the pattern of the Wagah border in Punjab," Sayeed told reporters during his visit to the border areas of Jammu region today.
He said the government would try to set up an amusement park near the International Border (IB) in Suchetgarh so as to attract more tourists.
"We will also try to make a fountain here so that people who come here can enjoy," he said, adding that people of Jammu have been complaining that the tourist footfall in Jammu region has decreased after the train service reached Katra.
"We are trying our best to develop this place on the pattern of Wagah border so that this place becomes a meeting point of the people from both sides," he said.
The CM said he would try his best and take up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs to grant permission for the development of this border point.
He said the priority was to develop the place and provide all the basic facilities to the people visiting here.
Mufti said the Government of India has spent around Rs 7 crore to develop some infrastructure but that was not enough and more was needed to be done.
"If we need to acquire some land to develop this place, we will do that. This is the one place in Jammu which can be develop as a tourist destination", Mufti said.
He said that Sialkote in Pakistan was the nearest point from Suchetgarh border.
"I feel that this is the closest point between the two sides which can also help become bridge between the industries on either side", the chief minister said adding that this place can act as a meeting point between the people from both the sides including people from Jammu and Kashmir, especially school children.
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The Chief Minister said that he will vigorously pursue with the Centre the issue of projecting Suchetgarh as a people-to-people meeting point across the International Border (IB).
With the improvement in the overall security situation, option to promote Suchetgarh as a trading point with the neighouring country can also be explored.
While describing Suchetgarh as ideally-located for border tourism, Mufti said he will approach the Ministry of Home Affairs to explore the possibility of bringing Suchetgarh within the ambit of cross-border trade and travel, which was a huge confidence building measure between India and Pakistan.
Mufti, during his earlier visits to Salamabad (Baramulla) and Chakan da Bagh (Poonch), had expressed desire to broaden the scope of existing cross-LoC trade and travel.
For this, all connected issues in the meetings of Joint Working Group are discussed between India and Pakistan from time-to-time.
He also passed instructions for taking up with BRO (Border Roads Organization) the four-laning of seven km road stretch between R S Pura and Suchetgarh, to make the travel of the visitors to the border town more comfortable.
Mufti was also briefed about the broad contours of the Ministry of Tourism's (MoT) Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the development of Suchetgarh as a border destination.
The project, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 4.92 crore, envisages restoration of old Octroi post (built during British Era), construction of multi-purpose hall, development of pond and landscaping of the lawns.
The Chief Minister also inspected two other projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism under Himalayan Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Jammu city.
He visited Bagh-e-Bahu, where Musical Water Fountains with Sound-and-Light show will be set up at a cost of Rs 10.82 crore.
The Chief Minister also inspected the site for Amusement Water Park on reclaimed land, in proximity of Sidhra Golf Course.
During his visit to various institutions imparting technical education, Mufti called for bridging the gap between skill and jobs for which concerted efforts are required for starting market-oriented courses.
He also visited Government Women's Polytechnic Institutes and Government Women's ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) and interacted with students.
While taking first-hand appraisal of ongoing works on sports infrastructure, the Chief Minister visited K K Hakhu Hockey Stadium.
He was briefed about the construction of a pavilion; spread over 6,641 square feet for which a project worth Rs 1.35 crore has been envisaged.
Mufti also inspected construction work at Indoor Sports Stadium at MAM College, which has been sanctioned by the Union Sports Ministry at a cost of Rs 6.42 crore.
