Ropeway project makes no headway

Ropeway project makes no headway
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 17Conceived over six years back, the ropeway project to connect the Bhairon Ghati Temple with the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, nestled amidst the Trikuta hills in Katra, hangs in balance.
Despite being the second richest autonomous body in the country after the Tirupati Dev Sthanam (TDS) of the famous Tirupati Temple, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board (SMVDSB) so far has failed to initiate work on the ambitious Rs 18 crore project.
Undoubtedly, ever since the then Governor Jagmohan created the SMVDSB, it has not only streamlined the entire pilgrimage but also improved existing facilities at the holy town of Katra and the 13km long route till the Bhawan.
However, the ambitious project costing Rs 18 crore has not seen the light of the day as yet, said a SMVDSB official on the condition of anonymity.
He said, "In a bid to attract more pilgrims, the board has decided to come up with the project at a cost of Rs 17.88 crores. The proposed ropeway will be 450 metres in length.”
“Since without paying obeisance at the Bhairon Ghati temple, pilgrimage remains incomplete, so we decided to have a ropeway,” he added.
Board has been into consultations with the rail India transport and economic service (RITES) and a preliminary report, too, has been prepared but a final word was yet to be taken in the board meeting, he said.
No work, whatsoever, has been started as of now, he added while expressing regrets over inordinate delay in executing the project. Every year lakhs of pilgrims from around the world visit the famous cave shrine but a miniscule number among them go to the Bhairon Ghati because of the fatigue.
However, SMVDSB's assistant chief executive officer Bodh Raj claimed that the board has been actively deliberating upon the issue. “We are actively considering the project, but as of now no final decision has been taken,” he said