Jammu, December 18: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board , presided over the 73rd meeting of the Board at Raj Bhawan, Jammu.
The Lieutenant Governor inaugurated several new facilities designed to enhance the experience and convenience of pilgrims. Among these were the Yatri Facilitation Centre at Katra Railway Station and the Yatri Facilitation cum Staff Accommodation Complex, ‘Shubhra Bhawan,’ at Banganga. Additionally, he laid the e-foundation stone for a new Exit Track at Bhawan, aimed at decongesting the shrine area, and launched a series of digital initiatives, including an AI-enabled chatbot, ‘Shakti,’ and an ERP system for better management of Shrine Board operations. The 2025 Panchang Calendar and the Shrine Board’s annual diary were also released during the meeting.
The Board conducted a comprehensive review of its past decisions and deliberated on 25 agenda items with significant implications for enhancing pilgrim services and operational efficiency. Important projects discussed included the construction of an Exit Track from Durga Bhawan to Manokamna, part of the Bhawan area Master Plan, the development of a helipad in collaboration with Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board at Hutt village, Katra, and the construction of temples and infrastructure projects in Reasi district. The operationalisation of the Shrine Board’s Medical College at Kakryal was also reviewed.
To improve the pilgrim experience, the Board approved measures to decongest the Battery Car Point near Bhawan by constructing a multi-story parking facility, creating a dedicated space for battery car operations. The Sanjichhat Area Master Plan was also approved, focusing on upgrading accommodations, toilets, water points, food kiosks, queue management, and holding areas.
In the area of safety and disaster management, the Board approved a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and THDC India Limited (THDCIL) to address landslide and rockfall risks along the Yatra Route between Adhkuwari and Bhawan. Shubhra Bhawan at Banganga, built at a cost of Rs. 6.5 crore, will serve as a disaster management hub, equipped with a disaster response store, a waiting lounge, a lactating mothers’ zone, souvenir shops, water ATMs, and other amenities.
The Board expressed its commitment to holistic development in the region. It directed the CEO to explore initiatives to meet the educational needs of employees associated with the Shrine Board’s facilities, including the Hospital, University, Nursing College, and Medical College at Kakryal. Progress on ongoing projects such as the New Vaishnavi Bhawan at Bhawan, Covered Holding Area at Adhkuwari, Queue Complex at Darshani Deodi, and cottages near the sports stadium at Katra was reviewed, with an emphasis on timely completion.
The meeting also appreciated the façade lighting project aimed at enhancing the shrine’s aesthetics and approved upgrades to the lighting in the old Gufa, Atka area, and sanctum sanctorum using LEDs and optic fiber. An additional grant-in-aid was approved for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Charitable Society to support the operation of the Board’s peripheral institutions, including the Medical College, Hospital, Gurukul, Sports Complex, and Nursing College.
Earlier, CEO Anshul Garg presented a detailed report on the Board’s activities and the implementation of decisions from previous meetings. The Lieutenant Governor reiterated the Board’s commitment to enhancing transparency and efficiency in pilgrim services, emphasising the need for detailed analysis of security, disaster management, mobile connectivity, and feedback mechanisms to ensure a seamless and enriching experience for devotees.