Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 2: President Pranab Mukherjee today concluded his two-day visit to Jammu by paying obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi holy cave shrine in Trikuta Hills, where he inaugurated two new facilities for pilgrims.
Accompanied by Governor N N Vohra, the President performed ‘darshan’ at the cave shrine this afternoon after inaugurating Shridhar Bhawan Elevator and Panchi Helipad.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari accompanied the President after receiving him at Panchi helipad.
Police teams headed by DIG Udhampur-Reasi range Gareeb Dass had made tight security arrangements for the visit of the President. The arrangements had been made in such a way that the yatra was not affected. The yatra went on uninterrupted during the visit of Mukherjee and only queue was stopped for few minutes when the President performed puja inside the cave.
The President was driven to the shrine in a battery car and after performing the ‘puja’ he interacted with pilgrims who were happy to have the First citizen of the country amongst them.
The President had arrived in Jammu, the winter capital of the State, yesterday afternoon. He was the chief guest at the 14th convocation of the Jammu University yesterday.
This was for the first time when newly constructed Panchi helipad was used for landing of a VVIP. Previously, two trials runs had been conducted on it. Mukherjee drove to Bhawan from the helipad in battery car.
He performed `puja’ inside sanctum sanctorum of the shrine, where natural pindies of Goddess Vaishno Devi are located for about 20 minutes amidst chanting of vedic hymns by the `pujaris’ of the Shrine Board.
Mukherjee went rounds the Shrine complex, had a stay there, met the pilgrims and was briefed on Shrine Board activities by Governor NN Vohra, who also happened to be Chairman of the Board.
The President returned to the Panchi helipad in the battery car and flew to Technical Airport Jammu from where he returned to New Delhi in the afternoon. He was seen off at the Airport by Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Mukherjee prayed for the progress and prosperity of the people of the country during his prayers at the shrine.
The President inaugurated the large Panchi helipad, which has recently been constructed by the Shrine Board to add to the existing facilities, particularly to meet any emergency at or near the shrine.
On reaching Bhawan, the President inaugurated Shridhar Elevator, in the presence of the Governor. The Elevator, which connects the Track with Shridhar Bhawan, has been installed by the Shrine Board with a view to facilitate elderly, physically challenged, women and other pilgrims who face difficulty in climbing stairs to reach Shridhar Bhawan, Kalika Bhawan, SDM Office and Reception.
Later, the Governor briefed the President about the continuing initiatives being taken by the Shrine Board for the upgradation and expansion of the infrastructure for facilitating the progressively increasing number of pilgrims to the holy shrine.
He said that accommodation for pilgrims at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra and Jammu has been augmented and water and power supply is being further improved to meet the emerging requirements of the pilgrimage. He added that health care facilities for the pilgrims have been further strengthened on the Tracks and at Bhawan.
He briefed the President about the upcoming Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence as a multi-specialty hospital at Kakryal, near Katra.
The Governor observed that, under his direction, focus on environmental preservation continued to be accorded very high priority and, towards the furtherance of this objective, plantation of Trikuta Hills has been undertaken on a very large scale.
During the last five years, more than 8 lakh plants of indigenous species have been planted in the Trikuta Hills.
The Governor also briefed the President about the functioning of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University which has been established by the Shrine Board at Kakryal and the efforts underway to develop it as a major centre of excellence in teaching and research in the coming years.
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