Jammu & Kashmir approves final phase of Rs 250-cr ropeway for Mata Vaishno Devi shrine

Sinha inaugurated the Tripti Bhojanalaya and the Prasad Kendra at the temple complex's Bhawan. These two facilities, with a capacity to accommodate 3,000 pilgrims a day and serve 750 visitors at one time, respectively, are part of the continuous efforts to improve the overall experience of pilgrims.

Last year, the shrine witnessed the highest number of pilgrims visiting in nearly a decade, with over 91.25 lakh devotees making their way to the revered site. This is a significant increase from 2020 when the shrine was closed for five months due to the Covid pandemic and only 17 lakh pilgrims visited after it reopened on August 16, 2020.

The SMVDSB has been managing the affairs of the shrine since 1986, and the footfall has increased steadily with each passing year. From 13.95 lakh pilgrims in 1986, the number of visitors increased to 1.04 crore in 2012, and the arrival of pilgrims touched 85.87 lakhs in 2018. However, the number dropped to 79.40 lakh in 2019 when the central government revoked the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The ropeway project is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy by increasing the number of visitors to the shrine and providing employment opportunities to the people of the region. The project is also aimed at promoting tourism in the area and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir to the world.

The announcement of the final phase of the tendering process for the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine ropeway project is expected to be a game-changer for the region's economy and provide a much-needed boost to the tourism sector. The project, which is being undertaken with utmost sensitivity to safeguard the interests of local businesses, is expected to provide a comfortable and satisfying experience to pilgrims visiting the shrine from across the country and abroad.