Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 24: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) will launch four major projects including Multi-Specialty Hospital and alternate Katra-Adh Kunwari track this year after which it will generate infrastructure and facilities for opening the Medical College and Nursing College in the hospital.
Decisions to launch new projects including 230 bedded Multi Specialty Hospital, opening of Katra-Adh Kunwari track, Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati ropeway project and Multi Purpose Audio System along entire track from Ban Ganga to Bhawan were taken in 55th meeting of the SMVDSB held here this morning under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra, who also happens to be chairman of the Board.
SMVDSB CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told the Excelsior that the Board proposed to commission 230 bedded Multi Specialty Hospital at Kakryal near holy town of Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine, in October this year. He said entire model of running the hospital will be worked out by the Narayana Hrudayalaya Private Limited, Bangalore and Shrine Board in consultations with each other. Only last year, the Board had executed Concession Agree-ment with Bangalore company for operation of the hospital.
Dr Bhandari said the Board decided that infrastructure will be generated for opening the Medical College and Nursing College in the Multi Specialty Hospital. He added that the new hospital would have Super Specialties, Specialties, Outdoor Patient Department (OPD), admissions and Emergency among other facilities.
“The hospital is likely to be commissioned by the end of October,” he added and said the issue for sanction of Medical College will be taken up with the Medical Council of India (MCI) only when the requisite infrastructure is generated.
The Multi Specialty Hospital will go a long way in helping the people of Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring States.
In another significant decision, the Shrine Board decided that new track from Katra to Adh Kunwari will be opened for the pilgrims in May this year. This would significantly decongest the pilgrim traffic on old and traditional Katra-Adh Kunwari track.
With the commissioning of new Katra-Adh Kunwari track, there will be alternate tracks to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan right from Katra to the cave shrine. An alternate track is already running from Adh-Kunwari to Bhawan.
Yet another significant project, the first of its kind in entire Jammu region-the ropeway between Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati will also be commissioned by the Shrine Board in December this year. There is no ropeway in Jammu region so far and the Shrine Board would be the first to construct first ever passenger ropeway in Jammu region.
The ropeway will take passengers to Bhairon Ghati. A number of pilgrims miss the pilgrimage to Bhairon Ghati due to steep two kilometers ascent from the Bhawan. However, material ropeway construction from Siar Dabri in Katra to Vaishno Devi Bhawan will take 24 months to complete. The Governor asked the CEO to ensure that there was no delay in completion of these two crucial projects.
Yet another important project of the Board for installation of Multi Purpose Audio System along the entire track from Ban Ganga to Bhawan will be completed by the end of June this year. The project will enhance ambience for the pilgrims while moving on the track. The optical fibre cable has been laid on large portion of the track while speakers have been installed between Adh Kunwari to Bhawan.
The system will also be used to provide linkage for the functioning of several important services particularly CCTV, LAN and EPABX and making public announcements in case of any emergency.
The Board members asked Dr Bhandari to ensure the timely completion of all works by mobilising more manpower and other logistics, wherever required.
The CEO informed the Board members that construction of a Temple Complex, including a queue system and a large waiting hall, to facilitate the pilgrims ‘Darshan’ of the Garbh Joon at Adh Kunwari is at its final stages of completion. The work on the entire temple complex at Adh-Kunwari shall be completed by end April this year.
While reviewing the status of Rs. 45 crore project being executed by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation for securing the stabilization of the Trikuta Mountain Slopes for ensuring against falling stones and land-slides on the Track, the Governor asked CEO for taking timely action to also very early get work started for the treatment of the other identified vulnerable sites.
This work, under phase-1, has already been taken up for the treatment of 5 most vulnerable sites on the track between Katra and the holy shrine while the work at the remaining sites would be taken up thereafter.
Reviewing the afforestation activities undertaken by the Shrine Board, the meeting was informed that during the past 5 years nearly 13 lakh plants of forest, horticulture, floriculture and ornamental species have been planted for restoring the green cover of Trikuta Hills. The Chairman reiterated the need for planting more and more indigenous and hardy species of plants for rapidly securing the green cover.
The CEO informed the Board that on the directions of the Governor, the Shrine Board had started raising in-house stock of plants to meet its annual plantation requirements and for this purpose the Shrine Board has set up a hi-tech Plant Nursery near Panthal which would have the capacity of raising 5 lakh plants a year.
As far as the progress on the upcoming Multipurpose Sports Stadium being constructed by the Shrine Board at Katra is concerned, CEO informed the Board that this Project, estimated at cost Rs. 10.76 crore, is at its final stages of completion. This facility would boost the promotion of sports activities in the area and facilitate organization of mega sports events at the State and national levels, apart from promoting rural sports.
The CEO reported that, under its Social Responsibility Scheme, the Shrine Board had extended financial support in the form of scholarships to children and for marriage of daughters belonging to the erstwhile Baridar families and dedicated market support has been provided to a large number of local and Baridar families by supporting their Self Help Groups. He informed that the Board is also supporting translation of Dogri literary works into English and Hindi, apart from the publication of 8 editions of Dogri comic booklets.
The Board noted the action taken towards implementation of other projects of the Shrine Board which include the construction of Sewage Treatment Plants in the Shrine area, establishing accommodation complexes at Jammu and Katra, erection of Wire Mesh Fencing along the entire tracks, widening and re-tiling of the vulnerable stretches of the track for enabling the pilgrims to walk with greater ease.
The meeting noted the CEO’s timely initiative for distributing relief materials among the people affected by floods in the State in September last year.
The Board also approved various schemes which are aimed to promote the welfare and service conditions of different categories of employees, which, interalia, include the enhancement of Hardship Allowance for the employees posted on the Track, introduction of Higher Pay Scale Scheme for the regular employees of the Shrine Board, reimbursement of fees for the children of Shrine Board’s employees who get admitted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and amendments in SMVDSB Medical Re-imbursement Rules-2007.
The Board particularly appreciated the promulgation of a comprehensive order for the exercise of Administration, Financial and other powers by the officers of the Board.
The meeting was attended by E Sreedharan, Dr S S Bloeria, Dr Ashok Bhan, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, H L Maini, Justice (Retd) Permod Kohli and Maj Gen (Retd) Shiv Kumar Sharma, all Board Members, and Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, Dr M K Kumar and B Mohandaas, Additional CEOs of the Shrine Board.
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