Govt committed to developing Jammu’s religious circuit: CM

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to promoting Jammu’s religious tourism circuit to boost the region’s economy.

Responding to a supplementary query by MLA Yudhvir Sethi in the Legislative Assembly in Jammu, the Chief Minister, who also holds charge of the Tourism Department, said that concerted efforts are being made to publicise every tourism asset in the region.

“The department is actively working on developing the Jammu pilgrimage circuit. I have repeatedly emphasised this to more than one crore Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims. If even 10 to 15 per cent of them can be encouraged to visit other tourist destinations in Jammu, it will significantly benefit the region. However, we have not been able to achieve this so far,” he said.

He acknowledged that a key challenge is the lack of comprehensive information about Jammu’s pilgrimage sites.

“We aim to develop structured itineraries for three-day, four-day and seven-day pilgrimage tours and promote them effectively. We will ensure widespread distribution of promotional literature at trade and tourism fairs to attract visitors,” he said.

The CM also acknowledged the apprehensions of the local tourism industry due to the impact of direct train connectivity to Kashmir and the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway bypassing Jammu. “There is concern that with the railway now extending not just to Katra but also to Srinagar and Baramulla and with the expressway allowing travellers to bypass Jammu City, tourism in Jammu may be affected. However, developing tourism destinations alone is not enough. Sites like Jammu’s heritage landmarks, the upcoming Jammu lake and the Jammu zoo are significant attractions, but they need better branding and visibility,” he said.

“We must give these destinations a distinct identity and promote them effectively. It is true that there has not been adequate publicity so far, but we are committed to addressing this,” the CM said.

In response to a starred question of a legislator, the Chief Minister highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Department in developing infrastructure to attract more tourists to Jammu city.

“Several projects have been implemented under the State Capex Budget and Swadesh Darshan Scheme,” he informed the House.

Among the notable projects undertaken, the government has focused on enhancing major tourist attractions.

A spokesperson said a musical water fountain with a sound-and-light show has been installed at Bagh-e-Bahu to enrich visitor experiences.

An amusement park has been constructed near the Sidhra Golf Course in Jammu to provide more recreational options. To improve connectivity, the much-anticipated ropeway project from Mohmaya to Bagh-e-Bahu has been implemented, offering tourists a scenic and efficient travel option.

The Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) is also spearheading multiple initiatives to modernise Jammu’s infrastructure and enhance its appeal as a tourist destination, according to officials.

As part of its heritage conservation and beautification efforts, JSCL has undertaken the restoration and beautification of iconic landmarks such as Bahu Fort, Mubarak Mandi, Raghunath Bazaar and various temples and ghats under the Smart City initiative, the spokesperson said.