At a time when the tourism department is holding campaign across the country to attract tourists to Kashmir, one of the prominent destinations in the valley, Sonamarg, is closed for the visitors since December despite the snow on the road leading there has been already cleared.
Sonamarg, which remains abuzz with the huge flow of local aswell as non local tourists in summers, is closed during winter months for thepublic due to heavy snowfall.
Though the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has cleared snowon the road lead to Sonamarg from Ganderbal, the famed resort is still out ofbounds for visitors as the authorities are yet to reopen the road officially.
President Hoteliers Club (Sonamarg Chapter) Farooq AhmedHafiz said that they face huge losses due to the Sonamarg closure in wintersand now delay in opening of the Sonamarg Road.
“There remains a good influx of tourists during this time toother resorts including Pahalgam and Gulmarg, adding that Sonamarg having thebest to offer for different activitiescould have been preferred tourism destination” Hafiz told Greater Kashmir.
He said that due to the delay in reopening of the road it isgiving a setback to tourism sector here besides the hoteliers who have investedhuge in this business.
They locals who are dependent on the tourism sector herealleged that the government only prefers to promote Gulmarg and Pahalgam andneglect Sonamarg.
They said that the tourism department holds events outsidethe state to attract tourists but the department has failed to upgradeinfrastructure at these places.
“Authorities should reopen the Sonamarg road at theearliest and ensure basic facilities including electricity, water supply and mobilecommunication system for the convenience of the visitors” a hotelier toldGreater Kashmir.
When contacted deputy commissioner, Ganderbal, Hashmat AliKhan said, “We are assessing the condition of the road and will reopenanytime after April 15.”