Locals oppose Vaishno Devi Ropeway project at Jammu

Protest going on since last four days

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) – A march by shopkeepers and workers against the proposed ropeway project along the trek route leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine took an ugly turn on Monday as some protesters clashed with police at the Katra base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The protesters are demanding that the project be shut down or compensation for all those likely to be affected. A police official was injured in the stone pelting by the protesters but the situation was immediately brought under control with deployment of additional forces, officials said. The strike by shopkeepers, and pony and palanquin owners began on Friday after the Shrine Board announced plans to proceed with a Rs 250-crore passenger ropeway project between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre track and complete it within two years. The protesters allege that the ropeway project to take devotees to the temple will affect the business of local shopkeepers on the existing route.

The traders who take devotees to the temple on palanquins and horses said that, “After the ropeway is built, the devotees will go there themselves. Our income will be snatched away”. They have demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to every citizen affected by the ropeway project. Apart from this, they have also asked to prove a rehabilitation plan for the affected people.

The new ropeway project will reduce the journey of seven hours to one hour

Shri Vaishno Devi Temple Shrine Board Chief Executive Officer Anshul Garg said that the new ropeway project costing Rs 250 crore has been approved. Under this, it will take only 6 minutes to go from Katra to Sanji Chhat. After this, Vaishno Devi Bhavan can be reached in 45 to 50 minutes.

Currently, it takes devotees 6-7 hours to reach the temple. After the project is completed, it will take only one hour for devotees. The ropeway will be capable of carrying 1,000 people from one place to another in an hour.