National Conference Vice President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday urged the central government to upgrade the infrastructure at the ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district of north Kashmir for skiing.
“I urge the central government to kindly don’t see Gulmarg just for the Khelo India games rather develop it as a ski destination as there is a need to install a new infrastructure at Kongdoori which has not been there during the past 10 years”, Omar told media persons at Gulmarg.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said that in such conditions the skiers who loved to visit Gulmarg earlier now love to go Kazakistan for skiing.
“I have been here for the past two days doing skiing and hardly the Gondola cable car could have reached the top once without break”, he said.
Omar said during the past 10-years nothing new has been installed in Gulmarg.
“The authorities are often claiming that Gulmarg is one of the best places for skiing…it may be ..if we could build it under a good plan.. but it is the same as what we installed since 2014”, the NC Vice President added.
He said “to visit Gulmarg for Skiing is a different experience of life, but unfortunately the infrastructure for skiing built during our regime in 2014 is the same as nothing further progress has been made to create new infrastructure for skiers till now”.
The former CM said, obviously they (authorities) are conducting Khelo India games here, but on the same infrastructure which we have constructed ten years ago. Same is Gondola and Chairlift and other infrastructure.
“I hope that next year when Khlo India games will be held here the athletes will see a new infrastructure in Gulmarg”, Omar opined.
