Srinagar: Amid gun-battle and terror threats, the ministry of home affairs has taken initiative to approve a number of new tourist and trekking routes in all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Initially, the initiative was taken by the government of India under Prime Minister’s development package 2015. The decision to open new routes is expected to benefit the region of Ladakh as all the routes will be connected to the area.

The decision to approve the routes was taken by the ministry after the recommendation by Jammu and Kashmir state government led by governor Satya Pal Malik.

The new tourist routes which have been approved by MHA are Merak – Lema Bend, Chushul – Kartsangla – Mahe, Durbuk – shahikul – Tharuk – Sato Kargyam – Parma – Erath – Chusul and Loma – Hanley, Korzok – Nurbo – Sumdo – Parangla – Kazaand and Agyam – Shayok – Durbuk.

The new trekking routes approved are Phyang – Dokla – HunderDok – Hunder, Basgo – Ney – HunderDok – Hunder, Temisgam - Largyap – Panchathang – Skuru and Saspol – Saspochey – Rakurala – Skuru.

MHA has also extended the validity of the permit system for Ladakh from 7 days to 15 days. The ministry also directed the state government to constitute a coordinate committee at the district level chaired by deputy commissioner of Leh with the representatives of the Army and other security agencies.