Closed for ropeway project up to Katra Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu

People close to a market during Bandh, in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Photo credit: PTI

At Katra in Reasi on Wednesday (Dec 18, 2024), local shopkeepers blocked the 12 km vertical track of the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu region to protest against the ropeway connecting Tarakot Marg with Sanji Chhat.

“We are fighting for our rights. The board (which runs the shrine) is about to take away the bread and butter of over 60,000 families. From hoteliers to shopkeepers, pony owners to laborers and transporters, all have come out against the ropeway project. The project should be stopped,” said Bhupinder Singh Jamwal, president of Vaishnodevi Trek Mazdoor Union.

The business of the Katra market has been affected by the bandh call given by Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Sangharsh Samiti. BJP leader Jugal Kishore Sharma also criticized the government for “failing to resolve the issue within the December 15 deadline”.

Meanwhile, after re-assurance from the local level, the committee has withdrawn the call for Wednesday afternoon shutdown. The deputy commissioner, Reasi, asked for five days to “analyze his demands”, committee members said.

Katra is the base camp of the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. There have been several protests over the ropeway in the past one month.

The LG presided over the 73rd meeting of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board

Meanwhile, J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha presided over the 73rd meeting of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

An official said the lieutenant governor inaugurated and dedicated various pilgrim-centric facilities and laid the foundation stone of a new exit track, which was aimed at reducing the building area.

“The board conducted a comprehensive and critical review of its past decisions,” officials said.

However, there was no specific statement about the ongoing protest in Katra from the shopkeepers opposing the ropeway. The lieutenant governor said the board would “enrich the experience of pilgrims by improving transparency and efficiency of all services”.

The meeting also approved a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and THDC India Limited (THDCIL) with the objective of identifying and remediating slopes prone to landslides and rockslides along the travel route between Adhkuwari. and building.