Title - Nothing for Kashmir in rail budget: KHARA

Srinagar:Expressing disappointment over the rail budget announced by Government of India on Tuesday, the Valley hoteliers said their recommendations have been ignored.
Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Association (KHARA) said the rail budget has nothing for Jammu and Kashmir especially for Valley. “There is nothing new in the rail budget for our state. GoI has not taken into consideration the importance of railways for the promotion of tourism sector in Kashmir. We have proposed many suggestions to government in railway for the promotion of tourism sector but all were ignored,” said KHARA President Showkat Chowdhary.KHARA sad they had proposed special holiday trains to Jammu for travelers visiting Kashmir.“Every visitor to Kashmir can’t afford to travel by air. We wanted that there should be special holiday packages for the visitors traveling the State by train. It would have encouraged many people to visit our state in the presence of Kashmir specific holiday packages,” said Chowdhary.He said KHARA had also demanded increasing the frequency of trains to Jammu from April to September. “We have a good rush of tourists during peak summer season. Many tourists want to travel by train but they are forced to cancel their programs due to the increased bookings of the passengers for train during the peak season. More frequent trains to Jammu offering special concession would have encouraged more tourists to visit our state,” said KHARA President.He said during the peak season of tourism in Kashmir, hoteliers had sought concessions on rail fares bound for Jammu.KHARA also expressed dismay at GoI’s rejection of rail coach factory in Jammu & Kashmir proposed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.Notably, Chief Minister’s demand for setting up a rail coach factory in J&K to overcome industrial backwardness and economic shortcomings in the state has not been met in Tuesday's rail budget. “GoI has rejected even the demand of Chief Minister. The budget has total disappointed tourism fraternity,” said Chowdhary.