Vohra visits Vaishnodevi shrine, inaugurates various projects

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today visited the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji at Trikuta hills in Katra and reviewed the various development schemes there.
Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), also inaugurated the newly constructed Shailputri Bhawan at Adhkuwari on the occasion, an official spokesman said.
Built at a cost of Rs 3.46 crore, the Shailputri Bhawan houses 17 dormitories, a reception counter, blanket store and toilets and bathrooms for ladies and gents.
The five storey building, with a built up area of about 22,000 square feet, also has lockers available for each of the 422 people, who can stay there everyday.

The newly built complex has been constructed by the Shrine Board to augment the accommodation facilities for the pilgrims, particularly those who visit Adhkuwari for paying obeisance and have to wait for hours for their turn, the spokesman said.
Vohra went around the Sahilaputri Bhawan and took stock of the facilities made available to the pilgrims and issued instructions for ensuring the best up-keep of the facility.

He also laid the foundation stones for Bhairon Ghati passenger ropeway and Trikuta hills material ropeway, he said.
The Bhairon Ghati Passenger Ropeway is being constructed by the Board with a view to facilitate the pilgrims, who have to undertake an arduous climb from Bhawan to the Bhairon Ghati.

The project will be completed within a period of two years at an estimated cost of Rs 54.67 crore and shall have the capacity to carry 800 pilgrims per hour.
The Trikuta hills material ropeway, involving an expenditure of Rs 8.54 crore, is being installed between Siar Dabri near Katra and Bhawan and will facilitate the carriage of material from Katra to Bhawan, he informed.
The Governor, who is on a two-day visit to the cave shrine, also inaugurated the yatra exit route at Bhawan as part of the remodelling of structures with a view to decongesting the Bhawan area.