Separate entry, exit for pilgrims to avoid stampede
Jammu to Sanji Chat helicopter service to start soon
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 10: President Droupadi Murmu during her first two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir as first citizen of the country will be inaugurating two important projects at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Bhawan on October 12 besides performing darshan at the holy cave shrine.
Murmu will be in Srinagar on October 11.
Officials told the Excelsior that on October 12, the President will fly to VIP helipad near Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan and will offer prayers to Goddess Vaishno Devi in the cave shrine.
She will be accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Anshul Garg reviewed arrangement at the Bhawan for first visit of Droupadi Murmu to the shrine as the President.
She will inaugurate Skywalk and remodelled Parvati Bhawan, two very prestigious projects of the Shrine Board which have been constructed at the Bhawan.
The Skywalk will make journey of pilgrims very smooth as the pilgrims proceedings to the Bhawan and returning after darshan will have separate routes, thus, avoiding any kind of collision which was reported to be responsible for December 31, 2021, tragedy in which 12 pilgrims were killed and 16 others were injured in stampede at the Bhawan area.
“The Skywalk proposal was conceived after the tragedy as it will bifurcate incoming and outgoing pilgrims at the Bhawan. The yatris will proceed to the Bhawan from Skywalk and return from the existing route,” the officials said.
The Skywalk is equipped with most modernized facilities.
Droupadi Murmu will also inaugurate Parvati Bhawan which has facilities of 1500 lockers and one floor each exclusively for men and women washrooms.
“The Parvati Bhawan will help nearly 10,000 to 15,000 pilgrims everyday to deposit their luggage in the lockers, take bath and proceed to the cave shrine through Skywalk and return,” the officials said.
The Parvati Bhawan has been linked with Skywalk to ensure that the pilgrims proceed directly to the shrine after depositing their luggage and having bath which will avoid congestion in other areas of the Bhawan premises.
The Parvati Bhawan will be a free-of-cost facility for the pilgrims.
The Skywalk will be a 2.5-metre wide pedestrian flyover at an elevation of 20 feet above the existing track and will include waiting halls, toilets, and emergency exits. It has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 15 crore.
Seating arrangement for around 150 yatris has also been planned through increased width of 5-metres in a 40-metre stretch.
The President will return to New Delhi after inauguration of projects and paying obeisance to the Goddess.
Meanwhile, two more projects of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board will be operational during upcoming Navratras.
They include Atka area expansion and free langar for the pilgrims at Bhairon Ghati.
Expansion work in atka area has been completed which will substantially enhance sitting capacity of the pilgrims during morning and evening aarti.
At Bhairon Ghati, a restaurant being run by the Shrine Board is being converted into a free ‘langar’ facility by the Board for the pilgrims.
Both the projects (expanded atka area and free langar for pilgrims) will be opened for the pilgrims during Navratras beginning October 15, the officials said.
Meanwhile, SMVDSB CEO Anshul Garg said the Shrine Board will shortly start helicopter services for Mata Vaishno Devi Ji pilgrims from Jammu to Sanji Chat. Presently, the helicopter services are available only from Karta to Sanji Chat and back while pilgrims had to hire chartered planes for the groups from Jammu which was a costly affair.
“We had invited proposals for Jammu-Sanji Chat helicopter services and two companies have come forward. Their proposals have gone to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for approval. When the approval is received, the service will start and the tickets rates will be very reasonable,” Garg said.
Pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji has been witnessing heavy rush. By the end of September, 73 lakh devotees had visited the shrine and the numbers after several years is again expected to touch 10 million mark.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
