Central government's focus is to convert Jammu and Kashmir into Switzerland, says Nitin Gadkari

Sonamarg, Sept 28: Union Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday stating that the Central government's focus is to convert Jammu and Kashmir into Switzerland and assured a five-fold increase in Jammu and Kashmir's tourism in the next three years. People from across the country as well as foreign countries will visit Jammu and Kashmir. There would be a 10-fold increase in hotels and restaurants, a five-fold increase in road traffic, the Minister said. "An estimated 49 per cent capital investment is observed in employment when tourism grows. Now it's the responsibility of state administration to start the process for hospitality like waiters and other staff for restaurants and hotels. Skill development courses should also be started so that people in Jammu and Kashmir can get more employment," Gadkari said after inspecting the construction of prestigious Zojila, Z-morh tunnel projects here. Addressing a press briefing at the under-construction Zojila project, Gadkari also made it clear that both Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh Lieutenant Governors (LGs) are engaged in this process. Gadkari earlier reviewed and inspected the prestigious 13.5 km long Asia's longest bi-directional Zojila tunnel project and 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel project on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway on Tuesday here. Zojila Tunnel, which is envisaged to provide all-weather connectivity to Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, will be completed at the cost of Rs 4,500 crore. The ceremonial blast of Zojila tunnel was done on October 15, 2020. Zojila tunnel is quite significant in nature and will help to keep the UT of Ladakh connected for the whole year with the rest of the country. The tunnel will also boost the tourism sector of both the Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir UTs and keep the hassle-free movement of the armed forces during any weather conditions.