Number of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is showing steady increase year after year. According to available figures, the number of visitors this year is likely to cross 1.20 crore. It is not a small number by any means. Imagine the administrative upkeep needed to cater to the services of such a large number of pilgrims. With the completion of rail link to Katra, a project that is currently under execution, there will be a big up swell in the number of pilgrims. The Shrine Board is fully conscious of its responsibility. This is leading to the Shrine becoming more and more popular throughout the country. Statistics of pilgrims show that pilgrims from all the four corners of the country are headed towards the shrine. Understandably the shrine is assuming its status as one of the great shrines for the people of our country.
The Governor is the Chairman of the Shrine Board. He has been closely monitoring the growing infrastructure of the shrine in a manner that more and more facilities are provided to the pilgrims. Recently he has been on two-day visit to the Shrine during which he inspected the entire shrine complexes and various Bhawans which are raised for particular purpose. A large number of improvements and additions are being made at the Bhawan and at Adhkuwari. The Governor alongwith the Shrine Board members and CEO inaugurated the Shailputari Bhawan at Adhkuwari which is a dormitory complex to augment the accommodation for the pilgrims particularly for those who intend to visit Adhkuwari for the darshan of holy Garba Joon. Two important infrastructural facilities for the pilgrims are underway right now. Foundation stone has been laid for Bhairon Ghati Passenger Ropeway and Trikuta Hill Material Ropeway. The former will lift 800 pilgrims per hour from Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati. This project will be completed within two years at a cost of 54.67 crore. The other project is meant to lift material at Sair Dabri near Katra to Bhawan. It involves expenditure of 8.54 crore with capacity to lift 5 tons of material per hour.
Actually the Shrine Board is heading towards execution of various aspects of the Master Plan of Bhawan area of the Shrine. As we know the complex is expanded one and with the passage of time there will come up need of expanding the facilities and improving those already provided. Authorities have, therefore, devised a long term prospective plan. Under the Master Plan old structures will be replaced by new and modern structures with best possible facilities that can be provided. Equally interesting is the fact that other social aspects are also being attended to by the Shrine Board. For example the dispensary will be upgraded and many ultra modern facilities of a mini hospital like X-Ray machines and other equipment will be provided. Likewise the Shrine library is going to become an object of great fascination for the scholars of Indological Studies as valuable manuscripts and books will be preserved and made available to research scholars for whom stipends, scholarships and other facilities will also be provided. The Governor is taking keen interest even in the minute requirements like providing laundry for washing the linen or replacing the broken tiles on the pathway or making green cover more attractive around the entire complex.
Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is steadily adopting full sized status of an enormous social complex with far-reaching impact on the social life of the pilgrims who visit it. Though localised in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, it is virtually set to be one among the most leading social centres of the country where mythology, tradition and ancient civilization freely mix with modern thought of environment and life in that environment. The Shrine is running a university, which has been provided with ace faculties and research facilities envisaged at different departments should be good enough to attract talented researchers. The Spiritual Growth Centre is a valuable concept meant to serve ancient Indian urge for spiritual enquiry. Likewise the Resource Development Centre, Conference Room, Auditorium and Amphitheatre are bound to become a great attraction for people looking for spiritual emancipation while they propose a visit to the Holy Shrine.
Efficient and excellent management of the Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi under the close supervision of the Governor is becoming a model for other shrines in the State. Innovations brought to the Shrine indicate that most of our shrines have the capacity to develop into mega social institutions not only for providing spiritual satisfaction to the people but also to provide them facilities for higher learning and serious enquiry into human affairs under the sky. This is perhaps the largest shrine in Northern India visited by the pilgrims round the year. Even it has become an object of attraction for the foreign tourist also. The good thing about the holy Shrine is that it is auto generating funds and those are utilised most judiciously on the improvement of facilities provided to the pilgrims.
However, we do not know if the Government has mounted attention on one important and crucial requirement in connection with growth and expansion of the Holy Shrine. We mean the even handed development of the areas close to the holy cave but more essentially the base town of Katra. As this previously sleepy hill town of Katra has arisen from its long inertia and is galvanized into immense economic and tourist industry, its growth and physical expansion should be monitored and executed in a strictly laid out plan. It should not grow as stinking areas as that brings some sort of revulsion in the mind of a prospective pilgrim. This town has enormous potential and chance for development. Therefore the Government/Shrine Board should think of raising a township on ultra-modern lines at Katra by building blocks and other multi-storeyed buildings with a wide and attractive landscape. Large parking slots have to be made available to cope with the growing rush of motor vehicles desirous of parking somewhere safely.
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