The road leading to Sonamarg health resort in Ganderbal district would be reopened in next few days, almost a month earlier this year than usual, official said Sunday.
The road was closed in December last year due to heavy snowfall.
Owing to the arrival of tourists and the demand of the hoteliers, traders and locals, the district administration Ganderbal has decided to reopen the road early this year to give a boost to the tourism as well as local economy, the officials said.
Talking to the Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shafqat Iqbal said that the officials visited Sonamarg and reviewed the snow clearance work and directed the concerned departments for restoration of electricity, water supply and communication so that visitors do not go through any inconvenience.
“I have directed the KPDCL (PDD) and Jal Shakti (PHE) departments to restore electricity and water supply on a war footing basis besides the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) authorities and the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) have been told to make sideways at some place where there is accumulation of snow so that the visitors don’t face any inconvenience,” he said. “As of now we have decided to reopen the road within a few days.”
Iqbal said Sonamarg would be promoted as one of the best tourist destinations and snow and summer festivals would be organised to attract more tourists.
He said that in a first step, SDA and district administration Ganderbal in collaboration with NHIDCL and the Tourism department would organise a small event that would mark the opening of Sonamarg health resort.