Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, June 11: In less than a month, more than one lakh on-foot pilgrims have used the scenic Tarakote Marg for their journey to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji and on their return journey to Katra.
It is pertinent to recall that this 7 km long picturesque Tarakote Marg between Katra and Adhkuwari was opened to the pilgrims on May 13 and formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister on May 19.
Based on the feedback received from the pilgrims and keeping in view the large demand, process has been initiated to set up 3 additional kiosks on the Tarakote Marg to make available hot and cold beverages, including milk and milk products, fruit juices, ice creams, tea and coffee to pilgrims at short stretches.
The Tarakote Marg already has 6 food outlets which offer hygienic food at reasonable rates, 13 RO water points and 6 ultra filtered water ATMs for providing filtered quality drinking water while more are being added.
To ensure utmost sanitation and cleanliness on the track, mechanized cleaning is being done round the clock through ride-on machines, the toilet blocks are being cleaned with pressure jet machines while vacuum cleaners are deployed for general cleaning.
On the directions of Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, potted plants have been placed at various locations along the Tarakote Marg to add to the beauty and further enhance ambience of this route for the on-foot pilgrims.
The pilgrims, particularly those who have been frequently visiting the holy shrine for the past many years, have expressed high satisfaction of the beautiful ambience, scenic view of the surrounding areas, gentle gradient of the 6 meter wide track, modern infrastructure and the logistics put in place by the Shrine Board, adding that Tarakote Marg has significantly helped in decongestion of the existing track during the peak Yatra rush thereby facilitating smooth movement of pilgrims.
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