JAMMU: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has decided to implement the long-awaited ropeway project to address the gap between the demand and capacity of yatris and to facilitate the journey for elderly and differently-abled pilgrims.
Once completed, the ropeway is expected to revolutionise the pilgrimage experience, making it safer, faster, and more inclusive for millions of devotees annually.
“The board has finally decided to implement the ropeway project. It will also look into how the concerns of the locals will be included in the project, so that the elders, specially-abled bodies also undertake yatra smoothly”, SMVDSB CEO Anshul Garg said while addressing reporters in Katra.
The ropeway project will be a game changer, especially for those pilgrims who find it challenging to undertake the 13-kilometre steep trek to the shrine, he said.
“It will also cater to the ever-increasing number of devotees visiting the holy cave each year,” Garg said while addressing the reporters.
“As you know, the number of pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi is increasing every year. Last year, the yatra set a new record of over 95 lakh, surpassing a significant milestone in 2023,” Garg said highlighting the exponential growth in the number of devotees visiting the shrine annually.
The project has been in discussion
