Faizan Ahmad
Srinagar April 02 (KINS): Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha will inaugurate Tulip Festival tomorrow aimed to promote tourism in Kashmir.
Government has geared up for successful spring tourism season with the opening of gardens and other tourist spots in Jammu and Kashmir.
For the first time, over 15 lakh flowers bloom at Srinagar’s Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden, which was thrown open on March 25. In the previous years, less than 12 lakh flowers comprising of 50 varieties would bloom. Around 15 new varieties have been added this year.
An official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that Floriculture Department is going to organize festival at Tulip Garden from tomorrow in collaboration with the Tourism Department to attract tourists.
“Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha will be the chief guest on the occasion the main function of Tulip Festival which will start at 3pm and continue till 8pm in the evening,” the official said.
In this regard, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a meeting to review the final arrangements for the Tulip Festival commencing from tomorrow, at SKICC here.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P K Pole, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Aìjaz Assad, Director Tourism, G N Itoo, Commissioner SMC, Superintendents of Police & Traffic and HoDs of Line departments.
The meeting held threadbare discussion over the slew of measures put in place and the plans laid out for the successful conduct of Tulip Festival like Traffic Plans, COVID protocol management, Parking of vehicles, illumination of area and venue, contingency plan of Fire and Emergency, provision of medical and drinking Water facility, sanitation and other facilities.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Advisor impressed upon the officers to work in full synergy to make the festival a grand event. He said that Tulip festival is the first of its kind and is expected to have far reaching impact on tourism sector here.
Advisor was informed by the Divisional Commissioner that the Tulip festival has been given wide publicity to attract large number of tourists across the country and outside.
Advisor Khan instructed the Director Handicrafts & Handlooms to place stalls displaying Handicraft and Handloom products as an additional feature to the festival. He directed the concerned to ensure quality products are put to display and sale for tourists.
Advisor further directed the JKTDC to put up famous cuisines of J&K.
Advisor directed the officers to plan out meticulously so that the tourists are not put to any inconvenience during the festival. “They should be facilitated with easy access to the venue and convenient stroll in the tulip garden”, Advisor maintained.
He said the way publicity of this tulip festival is making rounds in the social media and other conventional media, the people in huge number are expected to throng this iconic garden.
Regarding traffic plan, he directed for effective traffic management with fixed entry and exit plans. He was informed that parking area for vehicles has been identified near botanical garden, Golf Course and additional parking space has also been earmarked to avoid congestion on the roads.
Advisor was also informed that several vehicles have been deployed by the traffic police to ferry tourists from parking location to the main venue. Advisor also directed SRTC and ARTO Srinagar to deploy high end vehicles for the same purpose.
Advisor was also informed that one way traffic plan has also been chalked out during the festival.
Advisor called for ensuring Covid containment measures at various locations and at the garden itself. He said all the visitors should wear face masks and volunteers should be deployed in the garden who would ensure the visitors wear the masks and follow guidelines.
He directed to install fumigation tunnels at the entry points and have periodical fumigation done in the area.
Advisor directed Commissioner SMC to deploy staff who would keep the venue and its surrounding clean and directed him to hold sanitation drives in advance besides setting up dustbins and mobile toilets in the area.
Advisor directed the CMO for placing critical and normal ambulances near and around the venue. Besides, he asked to deploy medical and para medical staff.
Advisor asked Directors of Tourism and Floriculture to assign their staff as Tourist Facilitators who would facilitate and interact with tourists.
Chief Engineer PDD was directed to ensure uninterrupted power supply and illumination of the area. Chief Engineer PDD assured the Advisor that all arrangements have been put in place and mobile teams have been kept on stand by mode.
Advisor also directed PHE officers to keep water tankers available in nearby locations to cater to the need of drinking water facility.
Advisor also reviewed arrangements made by the stage organizer regarding creating the set besides lighting and sound system, seating with social distancing arrangement.
Last year, the garden was kept closed due to COVID-19. It is the largest tulip garden in Asia spread over an area of about 30 ha (74 acres). It is situated on the foothills of Zabarwan Range with an overview of Dal Lake. The garden was opened in 2007 with the aim to boost floriculture and tourism in Kashmir Valley.
The garden is built on a sloping ground in a terraced fashion consisting of seven terraces. Apart from tulips, many other species of flowers – hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus have been added as well. More green spaces are included in the garden area keeping in mind the comforts of the tourists. Extra plants like daffodils, hyacinths, narcissus and other ornamental plants are planted to ornate the area. Water channel running through the terraces will add charm to the garden. (KINS)
One way traffic plan during the festival
LG to inaugurate Tulip Festival tomorrow
