Pahalgam attack floods hit tourism Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha

Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha said the UT witnessed a drop in number of tourists in 2025 due to Pahalgam attack and floods, as compared to previous year.

During his Republic Day speech, the L-G said the tourism sector occupies a pivotal position in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and was granted the status of an industry in 2020 to attract greater investment. Known as the ‘paradise on earth’, J&K recorded 1.61 crore tourist visits in 2025 (up to November). While this figure is lower than last year’s (2024) 2.36 crore visits, considering the adverse impact of the Pahalgam incident in April 2025 and subsequent floods.

He said the government was making sustained efforts to develop world-class tourist destinations, with financial support from the Ministry of Tourism and external funding agencies. “With a vision to explore and unlock new tourism potential, nine new tourist destinations have been identified, and projects are being prepared to develop these sites in accordance with international standards” he said.

Targeting terrorism, he said that the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ has instilled renewed confidence among citizens that the brave soldiers remain vigilant and fully committed to their protection.

Meanwhile, the L-G said the road network in J&K has witnessed substantial improvement through the execution of various programmes and schemes.

“With an overall investment of Rs 61,528 crore, construction and upgradation of one Expressway (Delhi–Amritsar– Katra), five National Highways, and two Ring Roads for Jammu and Srinagar cities are in progress. Three tunnels, including the Sonamarg Tunnel, have been completed, while eight tunnels, including the Zojila Tunnel, are at advanced stages of completion. These initiatives have significantly enhanced connectivity and reduced travel time, particularly on the Srinagar–Jammu corridor. The Narbal–Shopian–Surankote road, 11 with a spur to Magam–Gulmarg (196.50 km), has recently been declared a National Highway” he said.

He stressed that to further strengthen connectivity, the Centre has sanctioned 19 new National Highway projects during 2025–26, at an estimated cost of Rs 10,637 crore. “These include key projects such as the Pir Ki Gali Tunnel, Sadhna Tunnel, four-lane flyover from Lal Chowk to Parimpora Junction, and the four-lane Magam Flyover on the Narbal–Gulmarg section” he said.

The L-G also focused on power generation by hydroelectric projects in J&K. He said the efforts of the government in the power sector are yielding unprecedented results.

“Four major hydropower projects—Pakal Dul, Ratle, Kiru, and Kwar with a combined capacity of 3,014 MW, are under rapid execution. The long-stalled 1,856 MW Sawalkote hydroelectric project has also been revived after years of stagnation. Over the past five years, a record 5,708 MVA has been added to the distribution sector and 4,239 MVA to the transmission sector. Installation of smart prepaid meters is underway in mission mode, with 10.44 lakh meters already installed, and 100% coverage targeted by 2026–27. As a result, losses have been reduced by 9%, while revenue has increased by 16%” the L-G said.

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Courtesy: The Tribune -28-Jan-2026