| SMVDSB launches pre-paid system for hiring ponies, pithoos, palkis | | |  Early Times Report
Katra, Feb 26: A hi-tech computerized pre-paid system, integrated with CCTV Cameras and Video Conferencing facilities, for hiring Ponies, Pithoos and Palkis, was launched from Katra today for the facilitation of pilgrims to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji. This facility will be available to the pilgrims round the clock.
This system was formally inaugurated by B S Tuti, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi; in the presence of Simrandeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB); Indu Kanwal Chib, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; and Nisha Nathyal, SSP, Reasi at a function held at the Spiritual Growth Centre at Katra today.
The system has integrated nine Pre-paid Counters from Katra to Bhairon, located at an average distance of 1.75 km from each other at Katra, Banganga, Charan-Paduka, Adhkuwari-I, Adhkuwari-II, Sanjichhat, Parvati Bhawan at Bhawan, Pony Stand Bhawan and Bhairon, from where Yatris will get Pony, Pithoo, Palki services at pre-determined rates. The counters will also serve as Grievance Registration Centres for Yatris which will be conveyed to Shrine Board Administration at Katra in escalation format. RFID readers and scanners installed at these nine locations will get actual number of Ponies on the track on a given day which will help Shrine Board extend appropriate sanitation services and manpower to handle the mule dung collection and its disposal. Each Yatri will also be provided a helmet, elbow and knee pads to provide preventive cover against any accidental injury. The counters will also provide video conferencing facilities to Shrine Board Office in order to monitor the activities and interact with employees at different yatra stations.
The CEO of the Shrine Board said that the project is an outcome of NGT and Supreme Court Orders on the issue of regulating Mules, capping its count, management of mule dung and overcharging etc.
All the 9 Pre-paid Counters from Banganga to the Bhawan have also become functional from today which were inaugurated by Vivek Verma, Additional CEO and Naresh Sharma, SDM Bhawan in presence of other officers of the Shrine Board. |
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