J&K R&B Department to Invite Design Proposals for Pahalgam Memorial Honoring April 22 Attack Victims
Gulmarg, May 28: In a significant move to honor the memory of the 26 innocent lives lost in the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, the Jammu and Kashmir government has authorized the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department to initiate the process of inviting Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for designing a dignified memorial.
Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the proposal had received formal approval during the cabinet meeting held in Pahalgam. He informed the media in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg that the R&B Department had been entrusted with the responsibility of formulating a comprehensive proposal and inviting innovative design submissions from interested architects and organizations across the country.
“The Roads and Buildings Department has been given the mandate to invite Expressions of Interest for the design of a befitting memorial. Once the submissions are received, we will evaluate and proceed accordingly,” said the Chief Minister.
Omar Abdullah reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring that the planned memorial at Baisaran in Pahalgam is not just an architectural structure, but a symbol of respect, remembrance, and resilience. He emphasized that public and expert suggestions will be sought to ensure the memorial embodies both magnificence and solemn dignity.
“The idea of this memorial has been under consideration from the very beginning. We want it to be a permanent tribute to the 26 innocent souls who were taken from us so cruelly. It must remind us that their memory lives on and that such tragedies must never be forgotten,” the Chief Minister remarked.
Speaking at a gathering of travel and tour operators from across India, Abdullah also underlined the importance of restoring confidence in the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that terrorism should not be allowed to overpower the spirit of peace and progress in the region.
“In today’s cabinet meeting, held in the scenic town of Pahalgam, the Public Works Department was given in-principle clearance to move forward with the proposal for the memorial. It’s a step toward healing, commemoration, and showing the world that we will not be cowed by violence,” he said.
