Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Sept 3: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today visited Katra and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine. He reviewed the status of Board’s various ongoing projects for upgrading facilities for the pilgrims.
He was accompanied by Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer; Vishvajeet Singh, Dy. CEO; Ajay Salaan, Asstt CEO and other officers and engineers of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Dr. Mehta took stock of the wayside facilities provided by the Shrine Board and various ongoing mega projects of the Board. He was informed by the Chief Executive Officer that after recently introducing the Radio Frequency Identity Cards (RFID) to keep a track on the movement of pilgrims, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has also started work on the much-needed skywalk conceptualised with an emphasis on safety and facility that would provide separate paths for incoming and outgoing pilgrims at Bhawan.
Costing over Rs 9.89 crore, the length of the skywalk will be nearly 200 metres and its width will be 2.5 metres. Besides, the skywalk will have seating arrangements for senior citizens and women with two waiting halls equipped with washroom facilities are also being constructed along the skywalk to ensure seating arrangement for around 150 devotees, the work of which is expected to be completed by November.
Briefing on present status of Durga Bhawan, CEO informed that this high utility pilgrim-centric facility is likely to be commissioned shortly. The five-storey Durga Bhawan will have all requisite amenities, besides having adequate provision for harnessing clean energy, recycling of waste water linking up with existing STPs and provision of elevators etc.
After inspecting the ongoing works, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta paid obeisance at the Shrine.
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