Shopkeepers and workers protested for the fourth consecutive day on Monday over the ropeway project at Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Today, the protesting shopkeepers and workers clashed with the police on Monday. Along with this, the protesters raised slogans against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. When the police tried to stop them, a clash broke out between the two, in which a police personnel was injured.
Shopkeepers and palanquin owners had started the strike
The protesters first took out a protest rally outside the magistrate's office. Then staged a sit-in outside Shalimar Park. The protesters had earlier called for a strike of only 72 hours, but it was again extended for 24 hours on Sunday. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has decided to go ahead with the Rs 250 crore ropeway project on the 12 km long route between Tarakot Marg and Sanjhi Chhat. After this, shopkeepers and palanquin owners started the strike.
Shopkeepers and laborers are afraid
Let us tell you that shopkeepers and laborers are afraid that they will become unemployed after the completion of the project. Due to this, tension increased on Monday. During the protest, a CRPF vehicle was trying to pass through here. But some protesters became violent and broke its glass. Along with this, the protesters also threw bricks at the police.
With the new project, you will reach Mata's temple from Katra in one hour
Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Vaishno Devi Temple Shrine Board, said that the new ropeway project costing Rs 250 crore has got the green signal. Under this, it will take only 6 minutes to go from Katra to Sanjichhat. After this, Vaishno Devi Bhawan can be reached in 45 to 50 minutes. At present, devotees take 6-7 hours to reach the temple by climbing. But after the completion of the project, it will take only 1 hour for the devotee. The ropeway will be able to take 1000 people from one place to another in an hour.
Elderly people will get relief
SMVDSB CEO Anshul Garg said that the ropeway scheme will be a transformative project for the devotees coming to visit Mata Vaishno Devi. Elderly passengers will benefit the most from this. Garg has announced this in a press conference in Katra. During this, Garg said that every year the number of devotees coming to visit Mata is increasing. The ropeway project will also be able to meet the needs of the increasing devotees every year.
Last year 95 lakh devotees visited
Last year 95 lakh devotees reached for the darshan of Mata. This is a new record in the number of devotees coming every year. The ropeway project was being discussed continuously for many years. The board has finally decided to start it keeping in mind the convenience of the passengers.