World Bank may fund infra development at four J&K tourist sites

The World Bank has enlisted four places in Jammu and Kashmir — Bhaderwah in Doda, Bradari in Reasi, Kokernag in Anantnag and Dodapathri in Budgam — to be developed as international tourist destinations, officials said on Monday.

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Officials said the World Bank has shown “interest” to develop these four places on international lines. “Officials from World Bank visited J&K two months back. They have already visited these places in Kashmir and were set to visit Jammu also. However, their plans to visit Bhaderwah were stalled due to the Assembly elections. They will be visiting Jammu soon,” said an official from J&K.

The World Bank intends to fund infrastructure development at these places, the officials said. They added that the plan is to develop Bhal Padri meadow, Guldanda meadow, Jai Valley and set up Gondola cable car services at Seoz meadows in Bhaderwah. Besides, they said World Bank has also shown interest to develop Kailash Yatra route as the region has huge “pilgrimage tourism potential”.

Dodapathri in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Kokernag in Anantnag and Bradari in Reasi will also get a revamp under the aegis of World Bank funding.

The project will be executed in collaboration with the central government, they said, adding that the final decision of approval lies with the World Bank.

“For now, they have enlisted four places. We are hopeful of the approval. They are going to assess the potential of these places. We have got the potential for handicrafts, herbal tourism and adventure tourism,” said an official.