Special snow-clearing operation in J&K’s Bhadarwah to facilitate tourist movement

Bhadarwah, Feb 27: In the backdrop of high tourist influx at Guldanda meadow located on Bhadarwah-Pathankot highway in Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has launched a special snow-clearing operation to keep interstate road roads open to facilitate the smooth movement of tourists.

Bhadarwah-Pathankot highway has remained closed for all kinds of vehicular movement since Feb 2 after nearly 8 ft snowfall from Guldanda to Chattergalla pass stretch of the road, said an official.

DC Doda, Harvinder Singh said that BRO has deployed hi-tech machinery for snow clearance on Bhadarwah-Pathankot highway which passes through tourist hot spot Guldanda and Chattergalla Paas located at a height of 9555 and 11000 ft above sea level simultaneously.

"Although BRO has deployed latest snow clearing machines to clear the snow but despite all the efforts, a layer of snow remains on the surface of the road which results in slippery conditions as temperature drops to minus 15 degree celsius in some stretches of the highway," said Harvinder Singh.

"Tourists are converging in large numbers to visit famous Guldanda meadow, but as a precautionary measure, we are allowing only four-wheel drive and vehicles fitted with chains to move towards Guldanda, said Singh, adding up to Thanthera all the vehicles are allowed to ply and tourists are enjoying the mundane beauty of the snow filled meadow there as well.

Tourists who have converged in large numbers to experience the snow seem to be mesmerized by the snow alps and world class road connectivity. .

"I came here three years back but the infrastructure has been developed very well. BRO has done excellent work to maintain the high altitude road and this is possible only because of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although we wanted to visit Guldanda but Thanthera is also great spot as we enjoyed snow and the beauty of alps here as well," said Mahesh Chetnani, a tourist from Gujarat.

Meanwhile, locals are demanding that the traffic upto Guldanda meadow on Bhadarwah-Pathankot highway should be restored at the earliest as dozens of local vendors and hundreds others associated with tourism industry are dependent on the inflow of the tourists to the high altitude snow filled meadow.

"Although BRO and district administration is doing commendable job by deploying latest machinery to clear snow but if the links like Mughal Road, Simthan road and even Zojila are being opened for visitors then why administration is hesitant in allowing tourist vehicles to move towards Guldanda. Hope DC Doda will soon take a call in this regard," said a local.