Race against time for setting up TFC for cross-LoC trade

Srinagar, Oct 5 (UNI) The authorities in the Jammu and Kashmir are working on war footing for establishing the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Salamabad, Uri, for starting cross-Line of Control(LoC) trade with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) from October 21.

Starting free trade and movement with POK was one of the demands of Coordination Committee (CC), spearheading the present agitation in Kashmir.

Governor, N N Vohra, visited Salamabad in Uri, about 110 km from here, to review the ongoing work on TFC yesterday.

The Governor reviewed the preparedness and arrangements for launching an important event and called upon the executing agencies to complete the remaining work on a time-bound basis.

He has been personally monitoring the arrangements being made for cross-LoC Trade via the Chakan-da-Bagh and Salamabad routes.

Mr Vohra was informed about the quantum of work already completed at Salamabad under the Phase-I programme and about the preliminary work on Phase II which has been started on 50 kanals of land, where a full-fledged Trade Complex along with a modern Truck Terminal will come up in due course.

To start with, the required infrastructure, which includes a Ware House, Office Block for Customs, Rummaging Ramps, temporary Truck Terminal and a Waiting Hall have been erected.

The Governor also instructed the road-upgradation work from Salamabad to Kaman Post and directed that the remaining work particularly black topping of the road, must be completed well before the commencement of the trade.

Accompanied by senior Army officers, the Governor also visited the Kaman Post, the last Indian army post on the LoC and was given a detailed briefing about the arrangements and services which were being provided for the passengers traveling to Muzaffarabad, now on weekly basis.

Mr Vohra had also visited Chakkan-da-Bagh and Zero Point in Poonch on September 28.

On September 6 and 7, a high level Central team had visited both the Trade Facilitation Centres at Salamabad in Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch to review the arrangements. They had briefed the Governor about the infrastructural facilities coming up at the two places.

UNI BAS AK NS1147