Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday lauded the efforts put in by the administration for ensuring minimum disruption of normal life due to snowfall.
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the administration appeared to be fully geared up on all fronts and not only VIP areas but all nooks and corners, lanes and bye-lanes were cleared of snow and supplied regular electricity.
He said that the KCC&I on behalf of the business community would put on record its appreciation of the efforts put in by Basheer Ahmad Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Hasmat Yousuf Qazi, Chief Engineer (M& RE) and other officers of various departments who worked tirelessly to provide essential facilities/services to the public.
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmed drew the attention of the Government towards the repeated closure of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway and exploitation of consumers by airlines which needed to be urgently checked.
He urged that being the only form of travel available to the consumer during winter months, the Government should consider declaring air travel as an essential service and bring it under the relevant Act to cap airfares.
The highway has been a major problem for the commuters throughout and the administration is requested to make harder efforts to evacuate stranded passengers and travelers and also ensure that those stranded are well provided for.