Srinagar, Apr 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the government is expecting more than two crore tourists to visit Jammu and Kashmir this year and break previous records of last year.
Addressing the reporters on the side-lines laying the foundation stone of Kashmir Medical College and Super-Speciality Hospital being developed by Milli Trust, Delhi, at the Industrial Estate Sempora, Medicity, Srinagar, the LG said more than 300 film shoots were done here last year and this year, we will break that record as well.
“Our problem is that we compete against our own records. Last year 1.88 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir and I expected more than two crore tourists to visit this year. We will establish new records and break them,” he said
“There are many hospitals and medical colleges in the public sector but I think in the private sector, there was no hospital or medical college of this size,”he observed.
“Today that vacuum has been filled and I congratulate them for setting up a 1000 bedded hospital and 150 seats in Medical college,” Sinha said.
The LG said with this venture coming up in Kashmir, the local students will not have to go to other states and countries to study medicine.
”Our students go to other states and countries to study medicine. Now they can study here. It is an effort towards a new beginning. When investments will increase continuously, it will create more employment opportunities. We can take Jammu and Kashmir on the path of progress and development,” LG Sinha said.
He laid the foundation stone of Kashmir Medical College and Super-Speciality Hospital being developed by Milli Trust, Delhi, at the Industrial Estate Sempora, Medicity, Srinagar.
LG Sinha said the project is one of the biggest private sector investments in the health sector of UT that will improve efficiency and quality of care.
“It is a new era for private investments in J&K UT and testimony to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s commitment to make J&K UT a leading investment destination for the manufacturing and service sector,” he said.
LG Sinha said the project worth Rs. 525 Cr will develop a Medical College with 150 MBBS seats to fulfil the aspirations of youth and 100 bedded hospitals will provide world-class healthcare at affordable rates. The project will provide employment opportunities to 2000 local youth, he said.
“We have created an enabling environment for the private sector for economic development, employment and income generation. The administration is deeply and sincerely committed to ease of doing business and ease of living,” the Lt. Sinha said.
The Lt Governor also shared the details of infrastructure being developed in the UT.
He said that Rs 1.25 lakh crores worth road and highway projects are being completed in the Union Territory and we have also created the necessary institutional structures for investment.
“The journey from Katra to Delhi will be possible in six hours with the completion of the new Katra-Delhi expressway while the journey from Kashmir to Delhi will take only 9 hours,” he added.
He said that world highest iconic rail bridge has been completed that will provide connectivity between Kashmir to Kanyakumari by the end of this year. With regards to Air connectivity, 126 flights shall be operational from May 2, LG Sinha added.
The Lt Governor said J&K UT is way ahead of national average on several health parameters.
“We have two AIIMS, 9 Medical Colleges. J&K also leads in per person spending on healthcare facilities. Every family in the UT is covered under AyushmaanSehat. We are making sincere efforts to transform Jammu Kashmir into a prime destination for medical tourism,” he added.
The Lt Governor expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for unparalleled growth of J&K UT.
“The transformation of J&K UT is a classic example of what good governance with a focus on inclusive development can achieve in a short period of time,” he said.
Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Fayaz Ahmad, Chairman Milli Trust, and other senior officers were present on the occasion.