The Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has taken a new initiative to revive the water bodies in Kashmir on the eve of Urs Syed Qamar ud Din Bukhari (RA). Bilquis Mir, a Water Sports Coach says after a gap of 35 years in Kashmir, water transport has been revived on September 8, 2022 by the Department of Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir. It will also bring back a glimpse of the old tradition which will be good for the youth to watch. In the coming days, this will give boost to a lot more tourism, said coach Bilquis.
Kashmiri singer Gulzar Ahmad Ganie said, we are reviving after 35 years and we are happy that all the departments are supporting us. Director Tourism, Kashmir G N Itoo said, the water transport used to operate from Srinagar Dal Lake to Baramulla. In the last two years, a lot of work has been taken up. It is a very important initiative from the point of tourism.
All the important historical places, shrines, temples, gurudwaras are placed alongside the river banks. So the water transport is a good platform for tourists to watch these places. The start of the water transport from Zero Bridge Srinagar to Ganderbal will have a big impact on tourism in the coming days, said Director Tourism. The Zero Bridge is an old wooden arch bridge located in the city of Srinagar in J&K. It crosses the Jhelum River and the bridge is considered as part of the local heritage and the view from Zero Bridge accentuates on union. The Zero Bridge was built in the 1950s when the late Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad was the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. It is said that the bridge was built by a deaf, local contractor. The word ‘Zorr’ means deaf in Kashmir and the bridge was first called the ‘Zorr Bridge‘, which later changed to Zero Bridge.
LG Manoj Sinha expressed hope that the occasion would strengthen the bonds of goodwill and brotherhood and remind us of the unity of mankind and resolve to strive for harmony and peace.