Zafar Aafaq
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday hinted that the road stretch between Polo-view and Hari Sing High Street in Srinagar’s commercial hub will be converted into a “No Vehicle Zone”.
This is a part of greater plan of Tourism Ministry of state government to turn Srinagar into a “vibrant” city.
Ms Mehbooba, who also holds the portfolio of tourism, was speaking in assembly on grants allocated to tourism sector.
“The people visiting Lal Chowk areas should get a space to relax,” Ms Mehbooba said. “I want people to come, sit and relax using chairs in Lal Chowk,” she added, “the moving vehicles offering food and snacks.”
She said that she wants see Srinagar as a spacious city.
The PDP-BJP government recently dislocated vendors from the roads of city and rehabilitated them at different places across city including ‘Makkah Market’ in Lal Chowk, parking ground near Khalsa School in Jahangir Chowk, Batamaloo near Police Station and Lal Ded.
“Initially the vendors were angry at the policy, but now they are satisfied,” she said.
For Old city, the government plans to turn into a heritage town.
The development comes in the wake of reported “government plans” to convert “skewed” bridge near Convent School into a Foot Bridge.
Meanwhile, the CM suggested Finance Minister Dr Haseeb A Drabu to double salary of Lawmakers.
The lawmakers across the party divide have been demanding increase in their salaries and CDF for some time now.
On CDF, Ms Mufti told MLAs, “don’t demand all things at one time.”
