Durga Bhawan’s construction is targeted to be completed by November-end which will increase accommodation and other facilities for the pilgrims.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also MP from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda constituency, has tweeted four photographs of the speedy construction work going on at Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Bhawan.
“With the aim to provide better facilities to pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, an additional infrastructure facility is under construction which will provide accommodation to around 1600 to 1700 persons at the Bhawan,” Dr Jitendra Singh tweeted.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has been focusing on pilgrim centric services continuously by increasing accommodation facilities at nominal rates. And, in this direction, Durga Bhawan has been coming up at Rs 28 crore to accommodate 2500 pilgrims on a daily basis.
It will have free accommodation, lockers and Bathing Ghats which will help the pilgrims a lot.
The Shrine Board has also been providing Online Heli and Battery Car Services available for senior citizens, women and specially abled persons, hygienic food at nominal rates in various Bhojnalayas all along the tracks including newly inaugurated Sidhidatri in Niharika Bhawan.
As many as eight Hi Tech Video Walls and Multipurpose Audio system have been installed on the track for announcements including advisories and live Aarti for devotees.
Pre- Paid bookings for Ponies, Pithus and Palkis along with RFID based tracking has also been introduced by the Shrine Board.
Around 800 devotees can participate in Atka Aarti and online bookings available for the purpose.
A series of measures for safety and security of the yatris have also been introduced which include RFID based Yatra Cards for tracking pilgrims and effective management on the track and free accidental insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to each pilgrim.
“Slope stabilization measures including Wire Mesh, etc have been initiated to mitigate adverse impacts from landslides and shooting stones being a quake prone area,” the officials said.
During just concluded Navratra festival and prior to that, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine witnessed heavy rush of pilgrims. Presently also, good number of yatris are daily visiting the shrine for darshan of Goddess Vaishno Devi Ji.
