Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Aug 5: In an emergent meeting of Kishtwari Sangathan Jammu (Regd) held at its office Chamber Shivalik Puram, Janipur Colony, Jammu under the chairmanship of A. K Sen and attended by full quorum of executive body as well as other prominent members to discuss the issue regarding “irrational hike in airfare for the pilgrims visiting Machail Mata from Gulabgarh (Paddar) to Machail and vice versa during yatra was taken up for discussion and to approach administration through press release highlighting our grievance for consideration and redressal by the administration.
In light of Govt order No: 102/JK/TSM dated 06-09-2022, Divisional Commissioner Jammu heads the management committee of Shri Mata Machail Mandir as its Chairperson with full authority to take all steps an make all arrangements in place that are deemed necessary for the pilgrims during the successful and peaceful accomplishment and culmination of Annual Yatra beginning w.e.f. 25th July 2023 onwards till August 23rd, a statement said.
As per record, some 2.60 lakh pilgrims had performed this yatra during 2018 and thereafter, the yatra could not be commenced for two consecutive years due to Administrative constraints. Last year in 2022 Yatra did commence but the turnout of pilgrims was not so much encouraging mainly because of similar reasons.
Forgetting all, the undesirable events, this time, the management headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu has taken all necessary steps to attract large number of pilgrims like previous years as existed prior to 2018 but the only area of concern to be highlighted here is steep hike in air fare from Rs. 4540/- to Rs 7580/- to and fro from Gulabgarh to Machail and vice versa which is in contravention to essential commodities act in vogue. This sudden shock appears to be irrational because in one jerk a hike of Rs 3540/-per person, “It is unacceptable and unbelievable which can be revisited and grievance settled,” the statement said.
“Air service aims to provide relief to senior citizens, old and infirm. Govt of India grants 50% cut in air fare for senior citizens which have altogether been neglected here. Then airfare of pilgrims at Barfani Baba, Mata Vaishno Devi, Mani Mahesh etc is also almost half of what we are being charged now when the fact , remains that terrain as well as weather and distance is tougher in case of Barfani Baba and Mani Mahesh is compared to Machail, it added.
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