JAMMU: After the success of Kashmir Marathon, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held a meeting of Tourism Department to take stock of the preparations made by them to hold Jammu Marathon in the month of February here. Besides the Commissioner Secretary, Tourism the meeting was attended by ADGP, Jammu; Secretary in Culture Department; SSP Traffic, Jammu; Director, Tourism, Kashmir/Jammu and other concerned officers of the Department.
Dulloo while enquiring about the formats and routes of the race impressed upon the Department to take into account the suggestions from professional runners besides those from other stakeholders involved in its conduct here. He made out that keeping in view the terrain of the city the routes and format should be devised so that it creates the necessary buzz and popularity about this place throughout the country.
The Chief Secretary further asked the organizing department to look into holding of ultra trail run here in Jammu connecting the popular destinations like Surinsar, Mansar and other tourist places enroute. He asked them to fix the dates for holding these events simultaneously so that most of the fitness lovers at international and national level are able to participate besides the local ones residing here in J&K.
The Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Yasha Mudgal took this occasion to highlight the plans of the Department to hold this running event here in Jammu. She revealed a number of routes and plans for the meeting to deliberate upon. She made out that the Department is proposing to hold it in the 2nd week of February, 2025. She also detailed out certain routes including the one leading upto Nagrotain the north or Suchetgarh in the south of the Jammu city.
It was further disclosed that the Department is going to run the promotional campaigns for making maximum registrations from all over the country. The meeting was apprised that international players would also be encouraged along with roping in national icons for promotional activities of this first ever Jammu Marathon.
The Department also unveiled its plan for holding of adventure swimming contest in one of the fresh water lakes of Kashmir next summer. It was given out that the requisite modalities and other paraphernalia are currently being worked out as per international standards regulating such events. Later on the Chief Secretary also took appraisal of the efforts made by the Department for developing more skiing destinations across J&K.
He asked the Department to appoint a consultancy of international repute in coordination with Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering (IISM) for exploring many more Gulmarg like snow and slopes across the UT to promote skiing there. It was given out that the snow drag lifts are being developed by the department at Sanasar (Patnitop), Padri (Baderwah), Doodhpathri and Sonamarg for starting this sport there. It was added that more infrastructure would be created in future to uplift this sport here all across J&K.
