Governor visits Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, reviews several development projects

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 5:  N. N. Vohra, Governor, who is the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, visited the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji today and inaugurated several infrastructure development projects, launched a number of schemes and reviewed the various ongoing development works of the Shrine Board with a view to meet future requirements of this round the year Yatra.
On the auspicious occasion of the commencement of holy Navratras, the Governor paid obeisance at the Shrine and prayed for peace, harmony and prosperity of the State. He was accompanied by Usha Vohra, First Lady, H. L. Maini, Member and Technical Consultant, Shine Board;  Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional CEO.
The Governor, while inspecting various projects of the Shrine Board stressed the need for ensuring expeditious completion of all the development schemes.
The Governor inspected the Outer Cave area and ATKA Extension Project and inaugurated Parvati Bhawan, in the Bhawan area, which has been constructed at a cost of about Rs. 3.58 crore. This 4-storey building has dormitory accommodation for 200 persons, besides locker facilities. He went around the building and was briefed about the facilities created for the pilgrims in this complex.
The Governor also inaugurated Jaikara Bhojanalya at Bhawan and looked at the food and other eatables being made available there.
During inspection of the under-construction Pony Stand, the Governor issued instructions for speeding up the work for its expeditious completion, which is estimated to cost Rs. 3.80 crore.
The Governor, who walked from Sanjichhat to Bhawan, met and spoke to a good number of pilgrims to ascertain the difficulties faced by them. He asked the CEO of the Shrine Board for exploring possibility of replacing the existing tiles of the track by skid proof material based on the latest technologies. He also asked for replacing GC sheets of the shelter sheds, wherever required.
Earlier, on arrival at Sanjichhat Helipad, the Governor was received by Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional CEO; Shahid Iqbal, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, SP, Reasi, and other senior civil, Police and Shrine Board officers.