After 21yrs, Rustum Garhi cafeteria to entertain visitors again

Grand opening of restaurant on Dalgate hillock by July 10
Riveted by the panoramic view of Srinagar city presented by Rustum Garhi Cafeteria atop Dalgate hillock, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora said the cafeteria would be a major attraction for tourists and will be thrown open by July 10, 2009. The Tourism Minister disclosed this while inspecting various tourist spots in and around Dalgate area, here today. Director, Tourism, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Director, Tourism (M&W), Mr. S. K. Sapru, besides other senior officers accompanied the Minister. The announcement to open the cafeteria comes close on the heels of the inauguration of Peerzo Restaurant and the Nigeen Club, owned by Tourism Department, a few days back. The cafeteria, built at a cost of Rs. 45 lakh, will resume hospitality after 21 long years and will be a major source of attraction for the tourists as well as locals, given the fantastic view it presents of the entire summer capital. Mr. Jora asked the authorities to explore all vantage points around Srinagar city as well as health resorts that can be utilized for tourism-related activity, and called for taking measures to protect environment. He said food forms an important component of tourism industry and steps will be taken to popularize traditional Kashmiri cuisines among visitors to the State. The Tourism Minister, while taking on-spot inspection of three Chinar Parks at Chinar Bagh, Dalgate, said a comprehensive project would be formulated for further developing these parks. He said under the project, a houseboat cafeteria, walkways and other recreational facilities would be built for the attraction of the tourists on the 53-kanal parks, which is perched with dense Chinar trees. Director, Tourism, apprised the Minister that in the first phase, fencing of the parks would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs. 1 crore. He said instructions have been conveyed for landscaping in these parks and cleaning up of the island in between the parks well in time. He assured the Minister that more tourist spots and would be identified in city surroundings and steps would be taken to create necessary infrastructure.