Early Times Report
Jammu, May 29: Amid speedy work of Chenani-Nashri Tunnel and less number of tourists, the hoteliers and shopkeepers at Patnitop have started feeling unsecured about their livelihood.
Despite of temperature touching 40 Degree Celsius, Patnitop fails to attract tourist from Jammu as well as outside the State this year. Even the weekends are quite disappointed for the hoteliers.
The speedy work of the 9.2km long Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, which will bypass Patnitop tourist spot from the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and will reduce the travelling distance from 41km to 10km, has become matter of worry for the hoteliers and shopkeepers of Patnitop.
Leighton Welspun Contractors Pvt. Ltd, which is constructing Country's longest Tunnel in the State, is expecting the completion of the Tunnel, one-year before the deadline of May 2016.
Sushil Sharma, an Hotelier at Patnitop said, "The number of tourist were already coming down for the last few years, but after the completion of the Tunnel, It may become difficult for the hoteliers to survive at Patnitop."
"Patnitop is not know countrywide, so the people travelling to Srinagar use to stay here for some time, but after the completion of the tunnel, tourists will preffer to go via tunnel, as it will save their time and fuel," he added.
According to the locals, some small shopkeepers from other villages, who were doing their business in the rented shops have closed their establishments and shifted to their native places due to poor response of the tourists.
A Shopkeeper at Patnitop said, "I am here for the last 30 years, the numbers of tourists were growing till 2007, now the number is coming down and I fear that after the opening of the tunnel, only locals will come to Patnitop," he added.
"The Tourism Department and JKTDC should focus more on the advertisement of Patnitop as tourist destination and attract more tourists here, else hundreds of people will be unemployed due to this tunnel," he added.
According to the officials of the Tourism department, they have started doing some cultural activities on weekends at Patnitop to attract more tourists. |
