In pictures: Asia’s longest ski drag lift inaugurated at Gulmarg

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday inaugurated Asia’s longest ski drag lift at the renowned skiing destination of Gulmarg, marking a significant addition to the region’s winter sports infrastructure. The INR 3.65-crore ski drag lift, located at Kongdoori, measures 726 m and is expected to enhance skiing facilities at one of India’s most popular winter tourism hubs.
Alongside the drag lift, the Chief Minister also dedicated a series of tourism infrastructure projects worth INR 17 crore, signalling a renewed focus on strengthening Gulmarg’s appeal on the international winter sports map.

During the inauguration, Omar Abdullah once again raised concerns over the closure of tourist destinations in Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. Referring to past experiences, he said, “We can only raise infrastructure. The closure of tourist sites was not our decision. We have seen more bad situations than this. There is a lot of difference between the situation now and 1996 when tourism had restarted. But we did not close any destinations that time,” he said.
The remarks come amid continuing debate over the impact of security decisions on tourism in the Valley, particularly at a time when the sector is struggling to recover.

Kashmir’s tourism industry has witnessed a slow recovery this year, largely due to the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran valley of Pahalgam, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. The incident triggered an immediate exodus of visitors from the Valley.
In response, the J&K LG administration closed more than 50 tourist destinations across the Union Territory. Following a security review, around 28 destinations have been reopened in a phased manner, though concerns remain about the pace of reopening. Addressing this issue, the Chief Minister stated, “I would like a review of the decision and the destinations opened one by one,” he said.

With tourism numbers yet to stabilise, many including the Chief Minister have pinned their hopes on weather conditions to revive visitor interest, particularly following early snow activity in October. However, expectations have not been met so far.
The months of November and December have remained largely dry, impacting winter tourism prospects. Highlighting the challenge, Omar Abdullah said, “There has been a deficit of 90% in the rainfall in the past 45 days and there is no prediction of rain or snow till December 22,” he said.

Beyond the ski drag lift, several other projects were inaugurated to support tourism development. At Kongdoori, the Chief Minister inaugurated conservation works of a water body, completed at a cost of INR 0.90 crore.
At Apharwat, he inaugurated a rotating conference hall, constructed by the JKCCC at a cost of INR 0.86 crore. He also inaugurated the Integrated Skiing Training & Adventure Tourism Centre at Gulmarg, alongside laying foundation stones and dedicating additional tourism-related projects.
The government stated that the new ski drag lift would significantly enhance skiing infrastructure and further reinforce Gulmarg’s position on the international winter sports map, even as broader challenges continue to shape Kashmir’s tourism recovery.