 Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 24: Good news for pilgrims who are heading to Maa Vaishno Devi shrine, the Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway has been inaugurated on Monday which will reduce the difficult hour long journey to just three minutes. Through Bhairon Nath temple is situated just 1.5 kilometres from the Bhawan but the steep climbing makes it difficult. According to reports, around 30-40 per cent people who visit Vaishno Devi temple also head towards Bhairon Nath shrine. Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Announces Free Rs 5 Lakh Insurance Cover for Pilgrims Visiting for Darshan.
The ropeway was inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday. The project was undertaken by the joint venture of Damodar Ropeways Construction Co (P) Ltd, Kolkata and Garaventa AG, Switzerland under the supervision of RITES. The cabins and pieces of equipment were imported from Switzerland, Simrandeep Singh, CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said.
"The trial and testing of the project formally began on November 26 and has concluded, said Singh. Besides trial and testing of the passenger ropeway, mock rescue and evacuation drills were conducted, simultaneously the shrine board staffers have been trained for the same," officials said.
The Ropeway has a capacity of 800 persons per hour and a single ride will cost Rs 100. The disaster management task force (DMTF) of Vaishnodevi Shrine, last week, had organised rescue and evacuation drills. Along with DMTF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also participated in the safety drills. |
