JAMMU, JANUARY 23 (KNO) : A meeting to discuss the status of various developmental works being undertaken in the newly created Ningli-Hygam Tarzoo Tourism Development Authority (TDA) was held here today. Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Bukhari chaired the meeting. Minister for Tourism, Tassaduq Hussain Mufti was also present in the meeting. Vice-Chairman JKTDC, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafiz, Managing Director, State Cable Car Corporation, Shamim Ahmed Wani, Director Finance Tourism and other senior officers were present. It was given out in the meeting that the prestigious Cable Car project coming up at Shranz (Dharian) Nakhpathri, which was envisaged by the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, would effectively provide an substitute to the Gulmarg Gondola and decongest the same and provide the tourists with another viable alternative for having the Gandola ride and explored the natural beauty of the area. The project covering a distance of 16 kms is only at a distance of 5 kms from the revered shrine of Baba Reshi and is coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 36 crore. The meeting also reviewed the pace of work on the Ningli-Hygam Tarzoo Development Authority which would be providing the tourists with the varied activities as bird watching, fish angling and water sports which are unique to the area. It was decided that a consultant would be hired to give the actual blueprint for carrying out the necessary works. The issue of land transfer was also discussed in detail. It was given out that the Tourism Development Authority comes under Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh Tourism Circuit and the work has been entrusted to National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) which is undertaken the necessary infrastructure development works under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Prime Minister’s Development Package for the state. An amount of Rs 2.25 crore has been sanctioned under the first phase for development of ethnic village at Shranz with a tourism facilitation centre, cafeteria, book store, toilets, parking, lighting, solid waste management etc, the meeting was told. The meeting was also told that work on shrine of Syed Haji Murad Kreeri taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh is under execution. The Minister for Horticulture also asked for the speedy completion of the tourist circuit which besides providing an alternative to the Gulmarg circuit would ensure that the tourism related activities of the area get a fillip resulting in generation of employment opportunities to the local youth. The Minister for Tourism directed the officers to speed up the work on this prestigious project and ensure its timely completion so that it can effectively supplement the Gulmarg circuit and provide a viable alternative to the tourists coming to visit the state. He also directed the officers to hold meeting with NBCC to ensure that the work on this project is expedited.(KNO)