Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 6: First ever passenger ropeway in Jammu region would be commissioned from holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji to Bhairon Ghati early next year by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). The material ropeway being constructed from Siar Dabri near Katra to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan was, however, expected to take nearly two years for completion.
There has been no passenger ropeway in Jammu region. The State Government had few months back started work on Mubarak Mandi-Bagh-e-Bahu ropeway project. A similar project conceptualized for tourist resort of Patnitop a long back was nowhere in sight.
The alternate track from Katra to Adh-Kunwari with seven kilometers length was also ready for commissioning early next year.
SMVDSB CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told the Excelsior that work was apace at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan-Bhairon Ghati passenger ropeway and it was expected to be completed by the start of next year. “The execution part of the project has started after completion of design, ground work etc,’’ he said, adding that work on material ropeway, which was proposed for construction from Siar Dabri in Katra to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan was likely to take two years for construction.
The passenger ropeway from Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati would help the pilgrims undertake arduous two kilometers journey within a couple of minutes. Due to tough track between Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati, many pilgrims miss the travel. However, the ropeway would make their task easier.
Dr Bhandari said the construction agencies were on the job and passenger ropeway from Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati was likely to be completed earlier than material ropeway. However, at present, there is no proposal with the Shrine Board to construct any other passenger ropeway at the Bhawan including Katra to cave shrine so far on the line of Mansa Devi shrine, which is linked with ropeway project from Haridwar.
He said construction of seven kilometers alternate track from Katra to Adh-Kunwari has been completed. Presently, stabilizing work, retaining walls, way-side facilities like eatable, construction of bathroom, dispensaries, refreshment points, drainage system and shifting of HT lines was being done. “When this task is completed by the start of next year, the new track would be thrown open,’’ the CEO said.
With this, the holy cave shrine would have two tracks right from Katra to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. At present, there was only one track from Katra to Adh-Kunwari while from Adh-Kunwari to Bhawan, there were two tracks. With the commissioning of new track from Katra to Adh-Kunwari, which has a length of seven kilometers, the cave shrine would be linked with two tracks from the base camp.
Rush of the pilgrims and the ponies on Katra-Adh Kunwari track would be eased after commissioning of the new track.
Dr Bhandari said an emergency helipad being constructed by the Shrine Board at Panchi, about one kilometer short of Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, is also nearing completion and would be opened shortly. However, the helipad would be reserved only for emergency evacuation. The normal helipad for the passengers would remain at Sanji Chat, he added.
The SMVDSB CEO said the Shrine Board has also covered eight buildings at Katra, Jammu, Adh Kunwari and Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan with solar and clean energy and proposed to undertake about a dozen more buildings on the same lines generating about two lakh liters water per day for heating system.
In another significant decision, the SMVDSB has been expanding the area for ‘Atka’ darshan (during ‘aarti’ at the cave shrine), which would increase its capacity from 100 to 200 plus. The platform for the expansion work has been generated and work would be completed shortly, Dr Bhandari said.
As a part of greening effort of Trikuta Hills, which housed the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, the Shrine Board has planted 3.5 lakh plants in and around the area and was also developing a Nursery for optimum growth of plants with storage capacity of six lakh plants at Painthal.
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