Amid record revenue, Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation’s top official busy buying properties; investigation underway

Srinagar: Amid the sharp increase in the performance and revenue of the Gulmarg Gondola (Cable Car Corporation) during the recent tourist season the anti-corruption agencies have caught the eye on the sudden increase in the household property of a top officer of the corporation.

According to sources the Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation (Gondola) has made record profits during the recent tourist season, but on the other hand, a top officer of the corporation bought more than a kanal of land in Srinagar’s Rawalpora, worth around 2.5 crore rupees.

The sources added that the officer has registered this property in the name of his wife so that no one can get the eye on it.

“Besides this the officer has bought properties in the name of his children at different places in north Kashmir’s Sopore. The income of a government employee like the top officer of Gulmarg Gondola (Cable Car Corporation) has come from a certain pattern and speed. The way the official has transferred lands and properties to his wife and children certainly indicates that income is being earned in a secret and dubious manner.”

Following the suspicion, the investigating agencies have taken serious notice of the matter and started action against the officer.

The agencies are ascertaining how the income of Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation (Gondola) is slipping and going to the pockets of officers.

Pertinently, Asia’s highest Gondola Cable Car project in Gulmarg, a popular tourist destination of the valley in North Kashmir, has achieved a record revenue of Rs 100 crore from April 2022 to March 2023.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the financial budget for the financial year 2022-2023 for Jammu and Kashmir termed the record revenue of Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation “a big deal”.

The Gondola has been making huge profits for the past one year since the central government has paid special attention to winter sports in Gulmarg.

Amid a heavy rush of tourists from outside places the properties of higher officials have also increased rapidly, raising the question if there is a lacuna somewhere in maintenance of government revenue.

People associated with the tourism business said that the government should not be guilty of negligence but should get hold of the accounts of the Gondola project as soon as possible.

They suggested that the government should also keep the accounts of the Gondola project in an accurate manner. “The new properties of the suspected officer should be held accountable as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, traders and businessmen in Gulmarg have also sent a detailed complaint letter to the Lieutenant Governor regarding the frauds of the officer and demanded that the properties of an alleged corrupt officer should be confiscated.

They have also urged for a thorough investigation on a fast track basis.