PM inaugurates Tarakote Marg and Material Ropeway

Jammu—Prime Minister Narendra Modi today formally inaugurated two impor­tant infrastructure development projects which have been completed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The first is the Tarakote Marg between Katra and Adhkuwari for providing convenience to on-foot pilgrims. The other project is the Siar Dabri-Bhawan Material Ropeway. These projects were inaugurated at a func­tion held at General Zorawar Singh Audi­torium at Jammu University today.

Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister; Sh. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping; Dr. Ji­tendra Singh, Minister of State in PMO; Sh. R. K. Singh, Union Minister of State for Power; Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh, Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly, Sh. Kavinder Gupta, Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Public Works and Culture, Sh. Sunil Kumar Sharma, Minister for Power and De­velopment; Sh. Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament were among the many dignitaries who were present on the occasion.

Governor expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for graciously agree­ing to inaugurate two important infra­structure development projects which have been implemented by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

Recalling that two years ago, in April 2016, Prime Minister had inaugurated Shri Mata Vaisho Devi Narayana Superspe­ciality Hospital, Kakryal and the Shrine Board’s Sports Complex, Katra, Governor informed that in the past two years the Hospital has provided medical care to over 2 lakh patients and free treatment, valuing Rs 37 crore, to the poor and needy.

Earlier, Governor Vohra gave a brief description of the two projects whose pictures were shown on the screen. Tarakote Marg is a 7.5 km long ramp style track which connects Banganga to Adhkuwari. This track, costing over Rs. 80 crore, has been constructed for pilgrims who wish to walk to the Shrine. He said that the opening of this Marg shall very significantly decongest the ex­isting Banganga – Adhkuwari track on which mules and ponies also ply. Tara­kote Marg provides well designed facili­ties for the comfort and convenience of the pilgrims. The Shrine Board has also constructed a 1.5 km Link Road to con­nect the existing Banganga – Adhkuwari track to the new Tarakote Marg.

As regards the second project, Gover­nor informed that the operation of the Material Ropeway will enable transpor­tation of construction and varied other materials from Siar Dabri to the Shrine. This Ropeway, costing about Rs. 12 crore, will enable the movement of 5000 kg of materials per hour to the Shrine and this shall very significantly decon­gest the existing track on which goods and materials are presently being trans­ported in carts and on mules.

Governor informed that the third project, which will become operational early next month, is the Rs 65 crore Pas­senger Ropeway which will transport 800 pilgrims per hour from the Shrine to the Bhairon Temple. He noted that the one way journey on foot to Bhairon Temple, which presently takes about an hour, will be covered in less than three minutes. He said that the Board has decided to charge a highly subsidized to and fro ticket of Rs. 100 to enable the largest possible number of pilgrims to avail this facility.

Governor observed that for the first time, the Shrine Board has got made a Master Plan of the Shrine and its adjoin­ing areas and, in the past several years, the Board have been implementing a continuing series of planned projects for strengthening the infrastructure and progressively enhancing facilities to be provided to the pilgrims. Besides con­structing a new, airy and well lit Tunnel through which pilgrims move to the sanc­tum sanctorum; enlarging the area for the Atka Arti, to nearly three times its ear­lier size; constructing a modern complex around the Adhkuwari Temple and add­ing several newBhavans near the Shrine, at Adhkuwari, Katra, and Jammu, for providing increased accommodation to the pilgrims, they have also constructed a Spiritual Growth Centre, a modern Guru­kul and a College of Nursing. He further added that the University set up by the Shrine Board, now in its fourteenth year, has 1600 resident students who hail from 23 States. The Engineering college of this University has been recently graded as being among the top 100 Engineering Col­leges in the country.

Governor noted that besides devoting continuing high priority to enlarging facilities for promoting education and health facilities in the region the Board is devoting very special attention to ensur­ing effective cleanliness and sanitation in the entire pilgrimage area. The Board has established the required number of Sewage Treatment Plants; modernized the existing toilets and constructed new toilets for men and women; established a Biogas Plant to utilize the mule dung which is collected from the tracks; and installed a number of Ultra Filtration based water kiosks all along the tracks to provide hundred percent clean water to the pilgrims.

Besides fencing over 50 km of the Shrine land boundary, Governor in­formed that they are implementing a ma­jor project for stabilizing the mountain slopes to ensure against rolling stones which have been causing serious inju­ries among the pilgrims.

Governor informed that an Audio Sys­tem plays bhajans and soft music round the clock along the entire length of the track to the Shrine and a modern Nurs­ery has been set up which supplies sev­eral lakh plants every year for greening the area along the tracks and in the sur­rounding hills. He said that they were in the process of rebuilding the Durga Bha­van to provide accommodation for about 4000 pilgrims. After the completion of this project, the Board shall achieve the goal of ensuring that 80% of the entire accommodation near the Shrine is in the “free of charge” category.

In pursuance of the Board’s responsi­bilities towards the residents of nearby areas, Governor observed that they were making considerable investments for improving the civic facilities in Katra town and several works are under way for upgrading the civic facilities in the adjoining villages. The Board is provid­ing educational scholarships to the chil­dren of Baridar families and financial assistance for the marriages of their daughters. They have also promoted the establishment of women’s Self-help Groups which manufacture Prasad and other materials which are purchased by the Shrine. He observed that on the occa­sion of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Shrine Board, the Board deposited Rs 1 lakh each in the names of 156 girls who were born during 2012. Besides, they were also providing Rs. 500 per month to the parents of each girl for her nourish­ment and early education.

Governor informed that the Shrine Board has recently taken another major decision to launch the Shri Mata Vaish­no Devi Kanjak Samriddhi Yojana for promoting the welfare of girl children in nineteen remote villages in the Bhomag area. Under this Yojana they were provid­ing Rs 1000 per month for fourteen years to girl children in the 0-5 year age group. The maturity amount, after the girls achieve the age of 21 years, can be utilized for their higher education and marriages.

On the occasion Governor thanked ev­ery member of the Shrine Board, each of whom has made extremely valuable con­tribution towards the Board’s functioning.

State Government Ministers, Mem­bers of Parliament, Legislators, Chief Secretary, Members of the Shrine Board, senior Civil and Police officers, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Ex­ecutive Officer of the Shrine Board, other senior officers of the Board and promi­nent personalities from various walks of life were present on the occasion.

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