Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir has received around Rs. 70,000 crore investment proposals since 2019.
“After the New Central Industrial Scheme became operational in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration has received around Rs. 70,000 crore investment proposals. From 1947 till 2018, the total private investment in Jammu and Kashmir was around Rs. 14,000 crore. After 2019, the private investment proposal has gone up to Rs. 70, 000/- crore,” LG Sinha said during his speech while laying the foundation stone of Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone of Kashmir Medical College & Super-Speciality Hospital being developed by Milli Trust, Delhi, at the Industrial Estate Sempora, Medicity, Srinagar.
He said that with the help of the Narendra Modi government, out of the Rs.70, 000 crore projects, many projects have already been started and taken up by the industrial department.
He said that after witnessing many difficult and tumultuous years, under leadership of Prime Minister Narandra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir is on a new path of development.
He said that after 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has also recorded Foreign Direct Investment which is good for the common people and the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have also been informed that the Foreign Direct Investment in the form of the Emaar Group from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is working in Jammu and Kashmir. They are constructing a shopping mall on around 10 lakh square feet and an IT tower in Kashmir and another in Jammu,” LG Sinha said.
Sinha said that his administration is trying hard to bring good governance to the doorsteps of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
“To bring government and governance at the doorsteps of the people, my administration is doing everything under its command. I will never let the people down. People always remain my top priority,” LG Sinha said during his speech while laying the foundation stone of a hospital in the Industrial Estate Sempora area of Srinagar.
He said that business, investment and development always remain the top priority for his administration and the officers.
“Infrastructure is very important. And the people associated with the industrial works are doing a fine work to bring development to Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He said that all those projects that we struck have been renewed and the work is going on smoothly now everywhere.
He said that people associated with road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir are also doing a commendable job. “It will only take four hours to reach Srinagar from Jammu in coming months as the work on the national highway connecting Kashmir with rest is in full swing,” LG said.
He said in the coming future, it will take less than six hours to reach Delhi from Kathua.
Sinha said that his administration is expecting to break its own record as far as the footfall of tourists in Kashmir is concerned.
“We are trying to break our own record this year. We are expecting a footfall of over two crore tourists in 2023,” LG Sinha told reporters on the sideline of laying the foundation stone of a hospital in the Industrial Estate Sempora area of Srinagar.
He said that in 2022, a record number of 1.88 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. “We are trying to break this record and are expecting that we touch over two crore mark in 2023,” LG Sinha said.
He said that the Bollywood movies were also shot in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
“The era of 1960 to 1980s is returning to Jammu and Kashmir as far as Bollywood is concerned,” he said.
LG Sinha said that over the years around 300 movies have been shot in Kashmir.
Pertinently, on Wednesday, the aced Bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani and Shahrukh Khan also shot a song in Sonamarg for their upcoming flick Dunki.
Addressing the gathering at the ground breaking ceremony, the Lt Governor said the project is one of the biggest private sector investments in health sector of UT that will improve efficiency and quality of care.
“It is a new era for private investments in J&K UT and testimony to Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's commitment to make J&K UT a leading investment destination for manufacturing and service sector,” said the Lt Governor.
The project worth Rs. 525 Cr will develop Medical College with 150 MBBS seats to fulfill the aspirations of youth and 100 bedded hospital will provide world-class healthcare at affordable rates. The project will provide employment opportunity to 2000 local youth.
We have created an enabling environment for private sector for economic development, employment and income generation. The administration is deeply and sincerely committed to ease of doing business and ease of living, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also shared the details of infrastructure being developed in the UT
The Lt Governor said that Rs 1.25 lakh crores worth road and highway projects are being completed in the Union Territory and we have also created the necessary institutional structures for investment.
The journey from Katra to Delhi will be possible in 6 hours with the completion of new Katra-Delhi expressway while the journey from Kashmir to Delhi will take only 9 hours, he added.
The Lt Governor further said that world highest iconic rail bridge has been completed that will provide connectivity between kashmir to kanyakumari by the end of this year. With regards to Air connectivity, 126 flights shall be operational from May 2, he added.
The Lt Governor said J&K UT is way ahead of national average on several health parameters.
We have two AIIMS, 9 Medical Colleges. J&K also leads in per person spending on healthcare facilities. Every family in the UT is covered under Ayushmaan Sehat. We are making sincere efforts to transform Jammu Kashmir into a prime destination for medical tourism, he added.
The Lt Governor expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for unparalleled growth of J&K UT.
The transformation of J&K UT is a classic example of what good governance with a focus on inclusive development can achieve in a short period of time, he added.
Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Sh Fayaz Ahmad, Chairman Milli Trust, and other senior officers were present on the occasion.