Srinagar: Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq Monday flagged off the much awaited Srinagar–Karnah-Machil Helicopter Service fulfilling the long pending demand of the area.
The Helicopter Service will connect the people of the area with rest of the state especially during adverse weather conditions besides giving flip to the tourism in the border areas of Kupwara district.
The first flight that was flagged off Monday from Srinagar carried five passengers from Srinagar to Machil.
Speaking on the occasion Abdul Haq said the residents of Machil and Karnah have been suffering owing to connectivity issues in past. He said Being far away from the summer capital Srinagar, the people especially patients had to face many hardships during adverse weather condition and the helicopter service has come as a major relief for the people.
He said with the start of the helicopter, the long pending demand of the people have been fulfilled by the personal efforts of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. He said the Chief Minister has been very particular about the issue of the connectivity in far flung areas as these areas remain disconnected during winters.
He said the service will also give flip to tourism as more tourists will be attracted to the virgin valleys of the state where the helicopter service have been started including Gurez Valley, Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar . He said current dispensation is committed to develop remote areas at par with urban areas on modern lines and increase job avenues in the district by giving flip to the tourism sector in the district.
He said former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had a wish to see the winds of change and development ion the re mote areas and it is because of his efforts that we are seeing these developmental projects seeing the light of day in the remotest hamlets of the state which seemed to be impossible earlier. “Mufti Sahib’s (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) historical initiatives became the bedrock for the development of these hitherto neglected districts. He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti continued the mission of her late father and is committed to develop the twin district on modern lines.
He said the helicopter service will act as another milestone for boosting the tourism of the district and will boost the economy of the area thereby helping to boost the economy.
He further said providing relief to the people of far of region is the top priority of the government that is why government under the leader ship of Chief Minister is focusing on inter-regional connectivity through surface by developing better roads and air connectivity to far off regions of state like Kishtwar, Paddar, Gurez, Rajouri and Poonch has been started by the state government.
He instructed the district administration to make the public aware about scheduled dates and times of take so as to avoid any inconvenience to the passengers.
