J&K Governor reviews facilities for Vaishno Devi Yatris

Katra/Jammu,October 16 (Scoop News) –  The Governor,  N. N. Vohra, visited Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine today on the auspicious occasion of Mahanavami and paid obeisance at the Holy Shrine. He offered “Purna Ahuti” at the conclusion of the 9-day long Chhat Chandi Maha Yagya organized by the Shrine Board, and prayed for communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, progress and prosperity of the State.

The Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, inaugurated a large accommodation complex, the second phase of Manokamna Bhawan, in the Bhawan area. Constructed by the Shrine Board at a cost of approximately Rs. 4.5 crore, this complex shall augment the existing accommodation facilities for those pilgrims who wish to stay free of charge.

The Manokamna Bhawan (Phase-II) comprising four floors will provide free of cost accommodation to nearly 500 pilgrims. This complex has been equipped with a Bhojanalaya, for providing food at very reasonable prices, and a blanket store, cloak room and laundary.

The Governor, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shrine Board,  R. K. Goyal, and other officers, reviewed the various facilities for the pilgrims. He also inspected the various ongoing development/upgradation works and spent considerable time in viewing the work done by the Shrine Board’s Forest Division to grow flowers of varied varieties and plant saplings of flowering bushes and trees. The several thousand trees planted in the preceding monsoon also include a good number of fruit trees. Good work has also been done to cut the grass and prune the existing trees all along the tracks as a part of the anti-fire measures. The Governor had given particular instructions on his last visit about the need to undertake a campaign for beautifying the hillsides, on all sides of the routes to the Shrine. He expressed satisfaction over the work already done.   

The Governor, while expressing satisfaction in regard to the facilities for the visiting pilgrims, stressed the need for continuous upgradation, modernization and expansion of infrastructure and other facilities to meet the futuristic requirements of the progressively increasing pilgrimage. In this context, the CEO informed the Governor that special efforts have been made for very early completion of several ongoing construction works which, interalia, include the remodeling of Adhkwari Complex, widening/improvement of existing track at several locations, augmentation of existing toilet/bath facilities along the track and facelifting of the entire Shrine area.

The Governor asked the CEO to early finalise the proposal for the construction of a dedicated mule track between Banganga and Adhkwari, for the ease of mule/pony movement from Banganga to Bhawan and expanding the track capacity for meeting the challenge of the progressively increasing pilgrimage.   

The Governor, enroute Sanjichhat to the Holy Cave, and at the Bhawan, interacted with the Yatris and enquired about the facilities made available for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. The pilgrims were all praise for the arrangements made by the Shrine Board for the Yatra.   

Earlier, on arrival at Sanjichhat Helipad from Srinagar this morning, the Governor was received by the Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Dr. Mandeep. K.  Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi,  P. K. Pole, SSP Reasi,  Anand Jain, Technical Consultant of the Shrine Board,  H. L. Maini and other civil, police and the Board officials.

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