Baseer Khan visits city shrines to inspect works undertaken by tourism deptt

Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan Monday visited different shrines here to take stock of various developmental projects being undertaken under centrally sponsored Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme.
The Advisor was accompanied by Director Tourism, Executive Engineer Tourism and officers of JKPCC and Wakf Board.
The Advisor maintained that the Lieutenant Governor is keen to see all these developmental projects completed soon. He directed them augment the men and machinery on works so that the projects are completed at an earliest.
On visiting Dargah Hazratbal the Advisor inspected the works carried out for beautification of Gate and Ornamental fencing carried out by the Tourism department. The Advisor asked the officers to complete the works before the end of next month and directed them to stick to the timeline strictly. He also inspected the wuzu khana (ablution centre) and asked them to make it functional within 15 days by connecting it to the reliable water supply.
The Advisor was informed that the work on gate is 85% complete and that of fencing is 90%. He was apprised that the work on devri (finished stone) path would also be taken in hand and completed forthwith. It was also given out that the wuzu khana has 40 numbers of ablution stalls distributed separately for gents and females with different entrances for both the genders.
The Advisor also visited the construction site of multi level parking at Hazratbal shrine. He was informed by the site engineers that it is a G+3 structure with a capacity for parking of 164 vehicles. The Advisor directed them to complete it before the year ending. He said that the facility is going to streamline the traffic on this busy route especially on the auspicious days of Eid Milad and other festivals.
The Advisor directed the Wakf Board officers to have the beautification of the surroundings done by aesthetically landscaping the area around the Hazratbal shrine.
While visiting the Gurudwara Chatti Padshahi, Rainawari the Advisor asked the Director to accommodate the demands of the Gurudwara committee so that the religious shrine has all the facilities available to make the devotees comfortable.
He asked them to complete the canopy work forthwith and invite tenders in a week’s time for other beautification works like parking lot, devri path, illumination and khatambandh. He urged upon them to complete all the works within three months.
At Khan-kahi- Moulla sufi shrine the Advisor was informed that the papermachie work has been completed and the exterior facilities are being augmented. It was given that the project’s estimated cost is about Rs 4.15 crore.
The Advisor asked them to install all the fire fighting equipments like fire hydrants, smoke alarms besides lightening conductors in the shrine so that the heritage site remains safe from any accidental damage.
He advised the officers to look for acquisition of the land and building in front of the gate and explore options for relocation of electric transformer there. He asked them to develop the ghat on the river flowing behind the shrine so that devotees take the benefit of water transport facility to be started soon.
The Advisor was assured that all of the facilities would be developed as per the desired instructions and timelines will be strictly adhered to.