Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Saturday reviewed preparations for the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJ&K) and directed departments to ensure coordinated and comprehensive arrangements for the event.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Garg reviewed preparations related to venue management, security, traffic regulation, logistics and hospitality for the festival.
Officials informed the meeting that films from 40 countries are scheduled to be screened during the festival, highlighting its international participation and outreach.
The Divisional Commissioner directed designated nodal officers to remain stationed at their respective venues and maintain close coordination with all stakeholders to ensure prompt resolution of issues and smooth conduct of programmes.
He stressed the need for detailed planning and effective crowd management at key venues, including SKICC and INOX cinema, and reviewed arrangements for night screenings, a floating cinema, gala dinner and other festival-related events.
Garg also directed the Tourism Department to finalise promotional brochures and audio-visual material showcasing Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism potential for visiting delegates and participants.
The Handicrafts and Handloom Department was asked to prepare information material about local crafts, artisans and exhibition stalls, while the Higher Education Department was directed to establish registration counters for students participating in festival activities.
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir was instructed to sensitise hired drivers regarding festival schedules, sightseeing arrangements and transportation requirements for guests and participants.
The Divisional Commissioner emphasised the need for effective traffic regulation and security arrangements while ensuring minimal inconvenience to residents and visitors. He also directed concerned agencies to make suitable arrangements at Srinagar airport and create designated selfie points at the SKICC back lawns and INOX premises.
To strengthen inter-departmental coordination, the Director Information was tasked with ensuring coordination among participating departments, while the Joint Director Information Kashmir was designated as the nodal officer for communication and coordination at SKICC.
Garg also called for a comprehensive dry run ahead of the festival to identify and address any shortcomings in arrangements and stressed the importance of seamless communication among all stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Director Information, heads of departments and other designated nodal officers.
Later, the Divisional Commissioner, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Vice-Chairman Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), Director Information and other officials, inspected Dal Lake by motorboat to review cleaning and beautification measures being undertaken ahead of the festival.
