From traffic woes to tourism, KCCI discusses business concerns with Div Com

Srinagar, May 30: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Executive Committee and various stakeholders held a marathon meeting with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, at the Chamber office on Wednesday.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Muzaffar Shah, was also in the meeting, headed by KCCI President Javed Ahmad Tenga.

A statement said that attended by leaders from various trade associations from uptown and Shehre Khas, the meeting addressed various issues concerning the city's infrastructure, traffic management, tourism, and development.

The discussions encompassed matters related to the Polo View Market, Residency Road, Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, parking woes, roads and footpaths in Shehre Khas, fire-fighting system, smart city projects, traffic decongestion, non-functional drainage, inadequate and ill-maintained washrooms, public transport system, Amarnath Yatra arrangements, restrictions on tourist movement, renewal of tourism-related licenses, free traffic movement and tourist pick-up/drop facility at Boulevard, permission for repairs/renovation/reconstruction in the hospitality sector, carrying capacity of tourist destinations, ease of doing business/single-window system, handicrafts and export issues, and quick allotment of warehousing space.

Additionally, the conservation of natural resources, the pitiable status of wetlands, solid waste management/disposal of solid and liquid waste into wetlands and water bodies, flood prevention measures, setting up a joint Tourism Consultative Committee of officials and stakeholders for smoother tourism operations, and non-accessibility to shops due to occupation of footpaths were among the other issues discussed with the Divisional Commissioner.

The SSP Traffic stated that automatic traffic signals would start functioning soon, streamlining the movement of traffic. He acknowledged the increase in on-road traffic and assured that necessary measures are being taken to improve the plying of vehicular traffic and commuting. He also admitted that Srinagar is beset with parking issues, which need to be addressed.

The Divisional Commissioner, while taking note of the matters raised in the meeting, asked the KCCI President to submit a comprehensive note of the issues raised by KCCI and trade representatives. He added that to address traffic woes, the Government has floated tenders for operating water transport in the Jhelum and Dal Lake. He assured that the issues raised would be seriously considered, and efforts would be made to resolve them.

The KCCI President and his team felicitated the Divisional Commissioner and the SSP Traffic. He also thanked them for favourably considering KCCI's pleas from time to time and expressed gratitude for sparing time out of their busy schedules to visit the office of KCCI, founded 100 years ago and the 4th oldest chamber of commerce in India.