Seek govt intervention for snow clearance  

Srinagar, Jan 07: Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) and J&K Hoteliers Club have expressed concern over the inconveniences the travellers faced on the way to Srinagar Airport due to huge traffic jams and snow accumulation on the road.

In a statement, TAAK President Farooq A Kuthoo said the logjams on the way to Srinagar Airport are bringing bad name to Kashmir and may prove detrimental to the travel sector.

TAAK president said the administration should press men and machinery into service to keep the road clear of any traffic jams and also clear the snow from the roads so that travellers reach the airport on time.

“Many travellers had to walk to the airport from a distance of nearly a kilometre due to huge traffic jams. It brings a bad name to the tourism industry. The administration should deploy traffic police on the road to keep traffic movement smooth and also clear the road of snow and waterlogging,” said Kuthoo.

TAAK also urged the administration to see a window of opportunity during the sunny days and press more flights into service so that stranded passengers can take flights as early as possible.

Earlier also TAAK President spoke to District Development Commissioner Budgam and sought his immediate intervention to ease out the traffic on the road leading to the airport.

Meanwhile, J&K Hoteliers Club has taken a strong note of the ‘failure’ of the administration in clearing the roads leading to Srinagar Airport.

In a statement, J&K Hoteliers Club said tourists who were stranded for over 4 days in Kashmir were put to a lot of hardships and embarrassment due to massive traffic jams on the roads to Srinagar Airport.

Chairman J&KHC Mushtaq Chaya said the visuals that emerged from the airport wherein travellers have vowed not to visit Kashmir again is a shame for the administration and has brought disrepute to the tourism sector of the J&K.

Chaya said despite having advance snowfall predictions, the government couldn’t clear the roads which led to massive traffic jams on Thursday.

He urged the government to ensure that airport roads are manned with additional cops so that smooth traffic is ensured.

Secretary-General JKHC Tariq Rashid Ghani said the administration's failure to keep the road clear has undone all the promotion the tourism department and stakeholders have done for the past few months after COVID unlock.

“Government needs to keep all the men and machinery ready for such situations so that both locals, as well as travellers, don’t face any inconveniences. If tourists face such hardships here, it will prove counterproductive for the tourism sector,” said Ghani.