Gulmarg: The Gulmarg Citizens Forum has renewed its demand for granting hill district status to Gulmarg, citing persistent administrative challenges, distance from district headquarters and the region’s growing tourism significance.
Addressing the issue, Forum Chairman Aashiq Ahmad Magray said Gulmarg continues to face governance and service delivery gaps due to its location nearly 90 kilometres from Baramulla town.
He said the long travel distance and harsh winter conditions often disrupt connectivity, making it difficult for residents to access essential administrative services. “Despite being one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the country, Gulmarg lacks administrative autonomy, which affects both governance and development,” he said.
The forum maintained that Gulmarg’s stature as a globally recognised winter tourism hub warrants a separate administrative setup. It added that upgrading the area to a hill district would not only streamline governance but also accelerate infrastructure development, improve service delivery and support the tourism economy.
The forum also stressed that the move would help in better disaster management and winter preparedness, given the region’s unique terrain and climatic conditions.
Urging timely intervention, the members appealed to the government to take up the matter on priority and called on elected representatives to raise the issue in the forthcoming Assembly session.
The demand for hill district status, the forum said, has been pending for years and requires immediate attention in view of Gulmarg’s strategic, economic and tourism importance.
