River cruises, open roof buses to promote pilgrim, heritage tourism: CM

JAMMU, APRIL 08(KMW): Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the State Government will promote river cruises and open-roof buses as add-on facilities to give fillip to heritage and pilgrim tourism in the State.
Mufti Sayeed said this while intervening in a supplementary during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly today.
Referring to the measures taken by the Government to promote Shahre Khaas as a pilgrim and heritage destination in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said special cruises will operate in river Jhelum exclusively to Khanqah-e-Moula, Zaina Kadal and the historic Jamia Masjid.
Mufti Sayeed said open-roof bus service for city sightseeing will also be introduced in both the capital cities. A few of these buses have already started operations in Srinagar, he added.
Emphasizing upon the need to outsource all properties of JKTDC along the National Highway, the Chief Minister said the Government will vastly improve wayside facilities along major road networks in the State to facilitate the passengers as well as tourists. He said public conveniences at all transit points along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will be renovated for the comfort of the visitors.
The Chief Minister said the Government will also take steps to develop Shikargah in Tral as a tourist destination.
Replying to another supplementary about filling up of vacancies by the J&K State Public Service Commission (J&K PSC), the Chief Minister said the Commission will be at full strength shortly and all vacancies referred to it will be filled in a time-bound manner. “We will also frame a policy to fill up all the posts in a fair and transparent manner,” he said and added that a modus operandi will be evolved to provide jobs to aspirants in Government sector on a regular basis.