Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Governor N. N. Vohra, who is Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, inaugurated Shrine Board’s Staff Colony at Himkoti which has been constructed to provide accommodation for the staff working on the Tracks.
This 3-storey complex comprises 24 rooms with kitchens, with 8 rooms on each floor and 14 bathrooms and toilet units in an adjoining building, equipped with all modern facilities. This complex has been constructed at a cost of over Rs. 88 lakh. The total plinth area of the building is 6500 sft while that of the bathroom toilet block is 1200 sft. A separate approach path has been provided to the main building.
The Governor emphasized the need for effective day-to-day maintenance of this newly created facility and ensuring proper maintenance and upkeep of the staff colonies and other residential buildings by undertaking timely repairs and renovations.
The Governor was accompanied by Dr. S. S. Bloeria, H. L. Maini, Dr. Ashok Bhan and Maj. Gen. (Retd) Shiv Kumar Sharma, Members of the Shrine Board; B. B. Vyas, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development and ex-CEO of the Shrine Board; P. K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; and Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Among those present on the occasion were Dr. Piyush Singla, Additional CEO, other officers, engineers and staff of the Shrine Board.
To add additional facilities for meeting the future needs of the pilgrims who visit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Governor has been laying very high priority to the speedy enlargement of the infrastructural framework. In this context, he visited the Renovated Temple Complex and Yatri Facilities at Adhkuwari.
The Renovated Complex comprises the Temple and Yagyashalla with an area of 12000 sft; a 7200 sft Queue Complex and Waiting Hall on first floor for the smooth flow of Yatris with safety from weather conditions while they wait their turn to peform darshan of the Holy Cave (Garb Joon) at Adhkuwari; a 350 Rft Que Line with stainless steel railings has been constructed to streamline the movement of pilgrims; Entry and Exit Gates having an area of 400 sft.
Meanwhile, Governor inaugurated a well designed Pony Stand in the Bhawan area.
The 4 floor Pony Stand, built at a cost of Rs. 3.50 crore, will provide all required facilities for the 330 ponies to halt here. Shifting the ponies from the Track to this new Pony Stand will help in clearing space on the Track in the Bhawan area and ensuring much easier movement of pilgrims, particularly during heavy rush of Yatris to the Shrine. The Pony Stand has a separate duct for the sanitary disposal of mule dung and urine. The Governor directed the CEO to prepare a well defined Standard Operating Procedure for running the Pony Stand so that the pilgrims are not put to any inconvenience whatsoever.
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