Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 23: While the State Government sponsored ropeway projects for Mubarak Mandi and Patnitop continued to linger on various pretexts, two ropeway projects undertaken in hand by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) would be ready to use in the next two years.
Meanwhile, pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji has surpassed the figure of 3 millions in less than five months though it was shot by a couple of lakhs as compared to corresponding figures of the last year.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the SMVDSB has awarded contracts to the two companies for execution of work on passenger and material ropeways at Vaishno Devi shrine and executed agreement with them for the construction work.
Both the ropeways would be completed in two years, they said.
The passenger ropeway has been proposed from Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati while the material ropeway would be constructed from Katra to Bhawan.
“Terms and conditions for both ropeway projects, which would be first of its kind in any part of Jammu region, have been finalised between the Shrine Board and the executing companies. Foundation of both the projects has been laid. The work on the two prestigious projects would be completed in two years,’’ sources said.
While passenger ropeway would be used for the pilgrims intending to visit Bhairon Ghati from the Bhawan, the Shrine Board would use material ropeway to take eatables and other items from Katra to Bhawan. There was, however, no proposal before the Board to construct passenger ropeway from Katra to Bhawan.
“A number of pilgrims, who were unable to trek to Bhairon Ghati due to steep ascent, would benefit from the ropeway,’’ sources said.
Worthwhile to mention here that the passenger ropeway projects at Mubarak Mandi, which has been declared as heritage site in Jammu City and tourist resort of Patnitop in Udhampur district announced a long back by the State Government have been hanging fire for the past several years on one pretext of the other. Work is yet to start on these two projects which would have become a sign of attraction for tourists as well as local people.
Meanwhile, over 3 million pilgrims have performed darshan of natural pindies at Mata Vaishno Devi ji cave shrine, located between Trikuta Hills in less than five months of this year.
A total of 32,20,840 yatris have visited the shrine till May 22, sources said, adding during the corresponding period last year 34,67,395 pilgrims had paid obeisance to the Goddess. The number this year fell short by 2,46,555. However, the yatra was likely to pick up in the coming days with summer vacations being declared in the educational institutions in most of the States.
In the current month, 6,15,426 pilgrims have visited the cave shrine as against 7,77,862 of the last year. The figure was less by 1,64,436. On an average, 31,000 yatris were daily reaching Katra town, the base camp of the shrine and proceeding to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan for darshan of Goddess Vaishno Devi.
In the month of April, 10,32,301 pilgrims had darshan of the shrine as against 9,61,025 of last year, an increase of 71,276.
During January this year, 4.36 lakh yatris visited the shrine as against 4.59 lakh last year while the number was 3.49 lakh in February as compared at 3.92 lakh yeast year. In March, 7.87 lakh pilgrims offered prayers to the Goddess as against 8.74 lakh previous year.
Going by the trends, this could be third consecutive year when the pilgrimage would touch or surpass 1 crore to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. Last year, 1.04 crore pilgrims had visited the widely revered shrine while the number was 1.01 crore in 2011.
Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi was 13.95 lakh in 1986 when Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had taken over affairs of the shrine. Since then, the yatra continued to go up every year creating new records.
It was for the first time in 1991 that the pilgrimage crossed 3 million (31.15 lakh). The 4 million mark was reached in 1996 while the yatra reached 50 lakh in 2000 and 60 lakh in 2004. It was in 2007 that the yatra stood at 74.17 lakh.
The pilgrimage came down to 67.92 lakh in 2008 due to two months long Amarnath land agitation but again went up to 82 lakh in 2009 and reached 87.2 lakh in 2010. It was for the first time in 2011 that the yatra crossed 10 million mark and stood at 1.01 crore.
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