Bandipora, March 23 -- Suhail Rather

The Gurez Valley, nestled in the northern reaches of Kashmir in North Kashmir's Bandipora district is on the cusp of a tourism renaissance with the Border Roads Organization (BRO) is nearing completion of a Herculean task: clearing the snow from the vital Bandipora-Gurez road, which promises to double the influx of tourists compared to the previous year.

The border valley, which remains cut off due to the heavy snowfall on Razdan Pass for six months, has been a significant barrier, isolating the valley and stymieing its tourism potential. However, the BRO's diligent efforts are about to change that narrative with its minimum closure.

"We have been working tirelessly since last week. Despite an avala...