Katra|Feb, 20: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha visited the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum. The Lt Governor on the sidelines of the event said that tendering process For Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Ropeway Project In Final Phase.
The Lt Governor accompanied by Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj and other board members prayed for peace, prosperity and happiness for all. The Lt Governor, during his visit, inaugurated Tripti Bhojanalaya and Prasad Kendra cum Souvenir Shop at the holy shrine. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is fully devoted to provide better facilities to the pilgrims during their pilgrimage to holy shrine, observed the Lt Governor. In the last 3 years, we have developed new infrastructure and several new initiatives like RFID, CCTV, new Registration Counter were started for hassle-free pilgrimage, he added.
The upcoming Durga Bhawan & Skywalk, and the recently approved integrated digital solution will make this spiritual journey more convenient, organized and memorable for the devotees, the Lt Governor further added. The Lt Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), took first-hand appraisal of the progress of the ongoing construction work of Durga Bhawan and other facilities.
SMVDSB has decided to develop Shankaracharya temple near Katra. Durga Bhawan will be dedicated to devotees before Navratri festival this year. It will provide accommodation to 3000 pilgrims per day near Bhawan, the Lt Governor said.
Lt Governor said the tender process for a ropeway for the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is the final phase and the project will be undertaken with “utmost sensitivity” to safeguard the interests of local businesses. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has approved a Rs 250-crore passenger ropeway project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chat along the 12-km track to the revered shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district.
“The tendering process of the ropeway project is in its last phase and the work on the project will be undertaken with utmost sensitivity to ensure that local business is not impacted,” Sinha, who is the board’s chairman, told reporters after offering prayers at the shrine.
The Lt Governor said the ropeway project was approved to facilitate pilgrims, especially the elderly and the differently-abled, to offer prayers at the shrine with much more ease. Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Anshul Garg briefed the Lt Governor about ongoing projects and the efforts of the board for upgrading and expanding the facilities for the pilgrims.
