Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today emphasised on developing areas like Sanasar, Mantalai and other spots to make up for the supposed dip in tourist arrivals to Patnitop in view of the operationalisation of Nashri tunnel. She also directed strengthening of facilities at Patnitop to sustain tourist interest in the place.Chairing the 19th meeting of Patnitop Development Authority (GDA) here today, the Chief Minister said by developing Sanasar, Mantalai, Nathatop and other areas in the catchment of Patnitop the entire tourist circuit in the region gets completed and also tourists visiting the area get added attractions which can raise the footfall at Patnitop. She said now efforts should be made to make Patnitop as a complete destination rather than an on the way spot on the National Highway.Minister of State for Tourism, Priya Sethi and MLA, Udhampur, Pawan Gupta were present in the meeting.The Chief Minister directed accelerating the pace of work on the Ropeway project so that tourists get an added attraction to visit Patnitop.
She also directed immediate upgradation of road to Sanasar and increasing the number of tented accommodations besides starting a food court and a souvenir market there.The meeting was told that the underground cabling of wires is underway at Patnitop which is expected to be completed by December.Mehbooba Mufti directed rolling out of a yearly calendar of activities at Patnitop, procurement of a snow cutter and setting up of a fire station at the earliest. She also directed release of Rs. 50 lakh for developing wayside facilities on Chenani-Patnitop road. Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal, Commissioner-Secretary, Finance, Navin Choudhary; Secretary, Tourism & Education, Farooq Ahmad Shah; Secretary, Horticulture, M H Malik; Secretary, Planning, Salim Sheshgar; Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur and Ramban, Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop Development Authority, A K Sangral; heads of several Departments and senior officers also attended the meeting.