Yatra reaches 78.10 lakh this year so far
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 12: Annual pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji has reached 78.10 lakh while nearly 4.5 lakh pilgrims performed darshan during Navratras in last 10 days.
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Work on three major projects undertaken by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board including Ropeway from Katra to Bhawan, the Medical College and Exit Track at Bhawan is presently on and all these projects are expected to be completed within next two years.
SMVDSB CEO Anshul Garg told the Excelsior that work on Rs 300 crore ropeway project from Katra to Mata Vaishnodevi Bhawan is on and it is expected to be completed by October 2026.
The project is being executed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode. It will facilitate smooth journey of the pilgrims to the Bhawan who are unable to walk to the cave shrine.
Garg said the Medical College is likely to start functioning with admission of 50 MBBS seats from June 2025 in a makeshift building inside Shri Mata Vaishnodevi University complex.
The Medical College which is expected to cost between Rs 200 cr to Rs 250 cr will be run by the Shrine Board while the hospital will continue to be run by Narayana.
A new Exit Track is also being constructed at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan at the cost of Rs 25 crore and it is expected to be completed by December 2025.
The Exit Track is 200 meters long and will bring the pilgrims after performing yatra to the main track. It will be dedicated track for the pilgrims returning from the cave.
This will be the third track at the Bhawan Presently, there is one main track and Skywalk operational at the Bhawan.
Three tracks will ensure smooth entry and exit of the pilgrims and avoid any kind of congestion at the Bhawan.
Meanwhile, nearly 4.5 lakh pilgrims performed darshan at the cave shrine during Navratras from October 2-12.
With this, total pilgrimage this year to Shri Mata Vaishnodevi shrine has reached 78.10 lakh.
In 2023, 95.22 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi.
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