*Track to be used for pvt advts to generate funds
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 30: Realizing that pilgrimage to Shiv Khori shrine can be promoted in a big way only by providing helicopter connectivity to the cave shrine, the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board will deliberate on this proposal once again in its forthcoming meeting to be held in the first week of May. Moreover, a major proposal to make the Board financially sound and upgrading road connecting the base camp of the shrine would also form part of the agenda.
The proposal to provide air connectivity to the revered shrine in Reasi district on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine was shelved in the last meeting of the Board held in the month of January this year following opposition to the same by some members on ‘unjustified’ grounds.
Since Shiv Khori is the major religious place after Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine, which is attracting large number of devotees from all over the country, an in-house study was conducted to assess how much benefit the heli-service can extend in giving impetus to the pilgrimage, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Accordingly, it was analyzed that if air-connectivity to this shrine is provided on the analogy of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, the number of pilgrims to Shiv Khori shrine would go up considerably. The popularity of this shrine can be gauged from the fact that 1,65,618 pilgrims visited Shiv Khori shrine till April this year and over 3000 devotees are visiting cave shrine every day.
Stating that the much talked about proposal of diverting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims to Shri Shiv Khori shrine would become reality only when chopper service is provided, sources said that instead of starting standalone service, there are two plans to provide heli-services to Shiv Khori Shrine. One is to start chopper service between Shiv Khori with Katra and another is to connect it directly with Sanji Chhat. In this way, the pilgrims would have twin options of performing pilgrimage to Shiv Khori Shrine.
“This would immensely benefit the pilgrims, who are presently unable to visit Shiv Khori after Vaishnodevi pilgrims due to shortage of time”, said Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Sushma Chauhan, who is also Vice-Chairperson of Shiv Shiv Khori Shrine Board while disclosing that construction of helipad and allied infrastructure along with approach road has almost been completed.
“Since pitiable condition of 15 kilometer long road between Kanda and Ransoo, the base camp of cave shrine of Shiv Khori, is also creating hurdles in attracting more pilgrims to this shrine, requirement of funds for its up-gradation would also be projected before the Board”, sources said, adding “it is unfortunate that required focus was not laid on this stretch till date despite the fact that roads connecting pilgrimage spots should be in better condition for the convenience of the pilgrims”.
A major proposal aimed at making Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board financially sound would also be deliberated upon in the forthcoming meeting, sources said. Under this proposal, Ransoo to shrine area would be auctioned for private advertisements as per the terms and conditions to be fixed by the Board and this step would initially generate funds ranging between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh annually.
“This would also meet the shortfall of Rs 5 lakh created due to bringing an end to the practice of issuing yatra slips to the pilgrims by collecting Rs 2”, sources said, adding “this practice was stopped as it was giving an impression of taxing the pilgrims. Moreover, if there is no such practice for Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims there was no justification for charging pilgrims visiting Shiv Khori Shrine”.
Sources said that some employees-friendly measures would also come up for discussion during the Board meeting during which progress on decisions taken in the previous meeting would be assessed by the Divisional Commissioner, who is the Chairman of the Board.
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