‘Jammu Darshan’ bus awaits tourists

Sumit Hakhoo

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 28

‘Jammu Darshan’, a first of its kind special open rooftop bus service to ferry tourists for sightseeing of historical and religious places, is awaiting tourists as tourism sector has been badly hit post abrogation of Article 370.

Encouraged by the Tourism Department and the district administration, a private partner had introduced the vehicle as part of plan to attract pilgrims and tourists to give them a glimpse of various sites in Jammu district. However, it is mostly lying parked in the city.

It was to encourage individuals to invest in introducing more such buses this year which could have generated employment and also promoted tourism in the Jammu region.

“Last three weeks have been worst for the sector. The abrupt halt of the Amarnath Yatra created a scare. Pilgrims who visit Mata Vaishno Devi shrine don’t prefer to stay in Jammu. It has affected our service,” said Baldev Khullar, who introduced the first open roof top bus service. The estimated cost of the bus is about Rs 30 lakh.

The bus routes included the ancient Bahu Fort, Balidan Stambh War Memorial, Hari Niwas Palace in Jammu and Jia Pota Ghat and Ambaran Buddhist Monastery in Akhnoor. Plans were afoot to expand services to other districts like Samba, Udhampur and Reasi.

“The tourism sector was already struggling in the Jammu region and scrapping of the special status has created a lot of apprehensions among those associated with the sector. It will take years for things to get normal,” said Adarsh Bali, who works in the hospitality sector.

However, Director, Tourism, Jammu, Deepika K Sharma was not available for comments. A senior official said the department had put on hold various promotional campaigns for now and they were waiting for October 31 when the Union Territory of J&K would take shape.

Failed to serve purpose

• Encouraged by the Tourism Department and the district administration, a private partner had introduced the vehicle as part of plan to attract pilgrims and tourists to give them a glimpse of various sites in Jammu district. 
• However, it mostly lies parked in the city.
• Estimated cost of the bus is about Rs 30 lakh.