JAMMU: Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Yasha Mudgal, chaired a high level meeting at the Civil Secretariat to review the CAPEX Budget 2024-25 of Tourism Department, besides assessing the performance and functioning of Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs).

The meeting focused on implementation of ongoing tourism projects, infrastructural enhancements and the operational efficiency of TDAs in boosting tourism in the region.

Besides Administrative Secretary PWD (R&B), Managing Director JKTDC, Director Tourism Kashmir, Director Tourism Jammu, CEOs of various Tourism Development Authorities and Chief Engineers PWD (R&B), Director Planning Tourism Department, all Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers PWD (R&B) attended the meeting.

During the deliberations, the Commissioner Secretary emphasised the need for optimal utilization of allocated funds besides timely completion of ongoing projects. She directed the executing agencies to ensure that all projects scheduled for the current financial year are completed without any delay.

Highlighting the importance of streamlining administrative processes, she called for accelerated project execution and quality service delivery to enhance the tourist experience. She urged upon the authorities to adopt a proactive approach in promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, leveraging digital platforms for outreach and fostering public private partnerships for infrastructural development.

While reviewing the CAPEX Budget allocation for TDAs, the Commissioner Secretary stressed the need for transparent financial planning, timely utilization of funds and strict adherence to project deadlines to maximise the impact of investments in the tourism sector. She directed the officials to identify high impact projects capable of significantly boosting tourism revenue and employment generation.

Yasha Mudgal also emphasized the importance of inter-departmental coordination to resolve bottlenecks, expedite approvals and ensure seamless execution of projects. She instructed the officers to establish a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability and efficiency in implementing tourism related initiatives.