Ropeways to come up at Vaishno Devi

Two ropeway projects are being set up at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir with a view to making the shrine more accessible to devotees.

"Two ropeway projects have been conceived by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) at Vaishnodevi. It is in the advanced stage," Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), SMVDSB, Mandeep K Bhandari told reporters here.

Of the two ropeway projects, one will carry pilgrims and the other will be used for goods and material, he said, adding that the ropeways will ferry men and material from the Bhawan to Behrao Ghati and back.

Technical bids and tender process has been completed, Bhandari said.

Referring to the turnover of the pilgrims, he said over 76 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine during the past eight and a half months as compared to 65 lakh pilgrims last year during the same period.

He said that all arrangements have been put in place for the Navratras beginning from tomorrow. "During the festive season, we expect a huge number of pilgrims at the cave shrine which has been elaborately decorated with flowers brought from various parts of the country and outside," he said.

The ACEO said elaborate security arrangements have also been made.

The annual Navratra festival will start from tomorrow at Katra -- the base camp of the cave shrine, he said.