Published On:Friday, 24 October 2014
But this time there were no complaints
Boulevard sealed on Modi’s visit
SRINAGAR: The tourist hub Boulevard was completely sealed on Thursday in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar. However unlikely in the past when people associated with the tourism industry were complaining of huge losses during VVIPs visit here, they have nothing to lose today in the backdrop of the devastating floods.
“We would face huge losses in the past whenever any VVIP would visit here. Even though complete area was sealed today in view of Modi’s visit, but it did not affect us nor brought any inconveniences to tourists as our hotels are empty since the floods hit the State,” Mohammad Amin, a hotel owner at Nishat said.
He said the tourists were facing immense inconveniences in the past by restricting inside the hotels whenever Prime Minister, President or any VVIP would visit here.
Boulevard houses dozens of hotels and guest houses. Due to closure of the area, the tourists had to confine themselves inside the hotels in the past.
The Prime Minister met several delegations at Raj Bhawan, which falls close to the Boulevard.
The forces had erected checking points and barricades and only vehicles carrying special passes were allowed to go ahead. Since morning, the security personnel stopped the civilian movement and no one was allowed from Dalgate and Shalimar towards the Boulevard.
Sources said the security personnel had also occupied the residential houses around the Rajbhawan at Karpora area of Cheshmashahi.
“We were not allowed to move out of our homes since morning,” the residents of Karpora said. They said the security personnel had searched the area including their houses on the eve of Modi’s visit and the area was put on high alert.
Tight security arrangements were also made in the Dal Lake, where security personnel patrolled the lake in shikaras and motorboats. “The Dal Lake around was sealed today but it hardly spoiled the visit of any tourist as houseboats and hotels are almost empty after the floods,” a houseboat owner Abdul Hamid said.
The last month flood caused massive damage to property, both public and private and huge losses to Kashmir’s business sector and tourism industry was the worst hit and thousands of tourists cancelled their bookings.
Boulevard also houses Mughal gardens, which would witness huge rush of tourists before the floods and Kashmir was than enjoying a huge influx of domestic and foreign tourists. “A meager number of tourists are visiting gardens these days after the last month’s deluge. Today we can’t complain of any losses due to Prime Minister’s visit here,” the traders who are running their shops outside the Botanical Garden said.
They said they have a ray of hope that Prime Minister would announce a package for the business sector so that they could restart their business and for those whose houses have been damaged for their rehabilitation.
SRINAGAR: The tourist hub Boulevard was completely sealed on Thursday in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar. However unlikely in the past when people associated with the tourism industry were complaining of huge losses during VVIPs visit here, they have nothing to lose today in the backdrop of the devastating floods.
“We would face huge losses in the past whenever any VVIP would visit here. Even though complete area was sealed today in view of Modi’s visit, but it did not affect us nor brought any inconveniences to tourists as our hotels are empty since the floods hit the State,” Mohammad Amin, a hotel owner at Nishat said.
He said the tourists were facing immense inconveniences in the past by restricting inside the hotels whenever Prime Minister, President or any VVIP would visit here.
Boulevard houses dozens of hotels and guest houses. Due to closure of the area, the tourists had to confine themselves inside the hotels in the past.
The Prime Minister met several delegations at Raj Bhawan, which falls close to the Boulevard.
The forces had erected checking points and barricades and only vehicles carrying special passes were allowed to go ahead. Since morning, the security personnel stopped the civilian movement and no one was allowed from Dalgate and Shalimar towards the Boulevard.
Sources said the security personnel had also occupied the residential houses around the Rajbhawan at Karpora area of Cheshmashahi.
“We were not allowed to move out of our homes since morning,” the residents of Karpora said. They said the security personnel had searched the area including their houses on the eve of Modi’s visit and the area was put on high alert.
Tight security arrangements were also made in the Dal Lake, where security personnel patrolled the lake in shikaras and motorboats. “The Dal Lake around was sealed today but it hardly spoiled the visit of any tourist as houseboats and hotels are almost empty after the floods,” a houseboat owner Abdul Hamid said.
The last month flood caused massive damage to property, both public and private and huge losses to Kashmir’s business sector and tourism industry was the worst hit and thousands of tourists cancelled their bookings.
Boulevard also houses Mughal gardens, which would witness huge rush of tourists before the floods and Kashmir was than enjoying a huge influx of domestic and foreign tourists. “A meager number of tourists are visiting gardens these days after the last month’s deluge. Today we can’t complain of any losses due to Prime Minister’s visit here,” the traders who are running their shops outside the Botanical Garden said.
They said they have a ray of hope that Prime Minister would announce a package for the business sector so that they could restart their business and for those whose houses have been damaged for their rehabilitation.
