CEO SMVDSB launches accommodation management system for pilgrims

CEO SMVDSB Anshul Garg launching accommodation management system for the pilgrims at Katra on Wednesday.
CEO SMVDSB Anshul Garg launching accommodation management system for the pilgrims at Katra on Wednesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 27: With an aim for providing an optimal pilgrimage experience to the devotees, Chief Executive Officer,(CEO) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, (SMVDSB) Anshul Garg today launched accommodation management system for the pilgrims.
The new system was launched for the benefit of devotees visiting the Holy Shrine, which shall be available at all Reservation Counters of SMVDSB in Katra.
With the robust accommodation management system in place, the check-Ins and check out of the pilgrims would become easier and less time consuming.
Besides, the financial transactions pertaining to payments on account of reservations would be secured.
It will also increase the room allotment efficiency of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, thus benefiting more number of pilgrims.
Recently, Chairman, SMVDSB inaugurated an online booking facility for the passenger ropeway from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan to the Bhairon Ji Temple for the convenience of the visiting pilgrims.
The facility has been widely appreciated by the pilgrims and based on the warm response, the online quota has been increased to 3,000 tickets per day from January-2024 onwards.
The Shrine Board has made concerted efforts for adoption of a number of emerging technologies and response mechanisms for state-of-the-art facilities.
These include a live darshan facility of “Holy Pindies” for the benefit of devotees across the world, particularly those who are not able to visit the Holy Shrine physically.
This initiative has been taken by the Shrine Board with the view to maximize the use of available technology and digitization for the larger facilitation of devotees.
In addition, with an aim to provide authentic information to pilgrims, a Bilingual Interactive Chatbot “Shakti” has been developed for the official website augmenting the 24*7 toll-free helpline equipped with IVRS for addressing queries and grievances received from pilgrims.
On similar lines Shrine Board has integrated digital payments in the various sale units of the Board to minimize the cash transactions by installation of Self- Serve Kiosk machines, QR codes, EDC machines, UPI payments and also on-boarding to popular digital platforms for donations and sale of Prasad.