Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Feb 4: A High Level Committee on Mata Vaishno Devi held a meeting with stakeholders here, today on ropeway project.
The Committee has been constituted by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). The meeting was convened to hold deliberations and review public concerns related to the Ropeway Project connected with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra.
The meeting witnessed wide public participation, with a large number of memorandums and representations submitted by elected representatives, local bodies, trade and tourism associations, social organizations, advocates, and senior citizens of holy town Katra and surrounding areas. These memorandums reflected collective public opinion and emphasized the need to balance infrastructure development with the protection of local livelihoods and the traditional economic structure of Katra.
The meeting was attended by MLA Shri Mata Vaishno Devi constituency, Katra, Baldev Raj Sharma, who actively represented the concerns of the people.
The High Level Committee members who attended the meeting included Dr. Ashok Kumar Bhan, ex DGP, Suresh Kumar Sharma, Ramesh Kumar ,Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, CEO SMVDSB, Katra.
During the interaction, the participants while welcoming the ongoing ropeway project from Tarakote to Sanjichhat, acknowledging its potential to enhance pilgrim convenience and safety, unanimously expressed serious concern over the possible adverse impact on Katra’s local economy, traditional businesses, employment opportunities, and service providers who depend on pilgrim footfall.
Keeping in view the religious, economic, and cultural significance of Katra as the base town of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi yatra, the stakeholders strongly urged the High-Level Committee to approve and plan a second phase of the Ropeway Project from Holy Town Katra to Tarakote, with Katra as the terminal low point. They emphasized that such an alignment would ensure that pilgrims continue to pass through Katra, thereby sustaining local trade, hotels, shops, transporters, pony owners, porters, and thousands of families whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly linked with the yatra.
The participants further stressed that development should be inclusive and balanced, ensuring that modernization does not disrupt the socio-economic fabric of Katra. They highlighted that a second-phase ropeway from Katra to Tarakote would not only support local employment but also improve crowd management, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance overall pilgrim experience while preserving Katra’s traditional role.
He was accompanied by district president, BJP Reasi, Rohit Dubey, DDC Panthal, Rajinder Kumar Mengi, DDC Katra, Nirmala Devi, Parvesh Kant, president Bar Association Katra, BDC Panthal, Chander Mohan Singh, BDC Katra, Sham Lal Bhagat, Shiv Kumar Sharma, president Senior Citizens Katra, Shashi Gupta, former Chairman Municipal Committee Katra, Ajay Baru, former Vice Chairman Municipal Committee Katra, Arun Sharma, president Press Media Club Katra, among many other prominent citizens and stakeholders.
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