Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Mar 2: Governor N N Vohra visited Railway Station, Katra yesterday. He was briefed by the Railway authorities about the facilities for the pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine who will arrive at Katra when the Udhampur-Katra sector gets commissioned.
On arrival at the Railway Station, the Governor was received by Sandeep Gupta, Chief Engineer of the Northern Railway, R. K. Choudhary, Chief Electrical Engineer, Northern Railway and other senior Railway officers.
The Governor went around the main areas of the Railway Station to view the salient features of the available infrastructure. He was informed that to begin with, nine pairs of trains would operate from Katra Railway Station, which would mean about 6000-6500 passengers arriving daily, almost all of whom would be Yatris.
The Governor went around the Retiring Rooms, Dormitories, Restaurants, Shopping Lounge and other facilities positioned by the IRCTC at Katra Railway Station. He enquired about the boarding and lodging tariffs and emphasized the need to ensure that pilgrims were provided safe, neat and moderately priced facilities.
The Governor inspected the space allotted by Railways to the Shrine Board for issuing Photograph-based Yatra Slips to pilgrims at the Railway Station. Dr. M.K. Bhandari, CEO of the Shrine Board, informed that four counters would be made operational depending on the requirement and passenger inflow, apart from establishing a Yatri Facilitation Counter for the convenience of pilgrims.
Later, the Governor travelled on the road connecting Katra Railway Station with Katra town. He observed that with the commencement of train services to Katra, the volume of traffic on this road would increase manifold and it was, therefore, necessary to ensure systematic traffic regulation. He directed the concerned officers to see that identified species of trees and flowering plants are planted along on this road before the rainy season and the PWD (R&B) should ensure regular maintenance of this important road which must not be encroached under any circumstances.
Dr. Ashok Bhan, Member, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; H. L. Maini, Member and Technical Consultant of the Shrine Board; Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Dr. M.K. Bhandari, CEO, SMVDSB, Vivek Gupta, SP Reasi; Rajinder Singh Tara, Additional DC, Reasi; Kulbir Singh, Additional SP, Katra, and other senior Civil, Police, Railway and Shrine Board officers were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Mr Vohra emphasised the need for preserving germ plasm of local species of plants and advised that local varieties which are hardy, ornamental and provide shade should be planted in the Yatra area.
The Governor made these observations while inspecting the up-coming nursery complex being developed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Kun-Kanyala near Panthal.
Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, informed the Chairman that a large variety of plant species are being developed at this nursery and that efforts are being made to enhance the in- house production of planting stock to almost fully meet the annual plantation requirements along the tracks and in the entire shrine area. The Chairman went around the nursery which spans an area of around 15000 square metres and was informed about the plan to install an automated mist chamber, a large vermin-compost unit and extensive green house facilities at the site.
B. Mohandass, Dy. CEO, who is incharge of the Nursery, informed the Governor that once fully developed around 3 lakh plants of various species would be produced at this nursery every year.
The Governor planted a sapling of Champa in the nursery complex during his visit.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
