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Oct 29, 2023

Jammu: Cable cars inaugurated for Vaishno Devi pilgrims

Listen to Story The much-awaited cable car project between Bhawan and Bhairav Ghati at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu was officially inaugurated today (December 24) by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

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The much-awaited cable car project between Bhawan and Bhairav Ghati at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu was officially inaugurated today (December 24) by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

Soon after the official e-inauguration, the cable car was opened for the pilgrims. The ropeway service is now going to make the yatra easier and comfortable for the devotees.

According to popular belief, the yatra to Vaishno Devi shrine is considered incomplete if devotees don't pay their obeisance at the Bhairav Mandir.

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The inauguration ceremony in Jammu was also attended by the CEO of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Simrandeep Singh, Chief Secretary Mr BVR Subrahmanyum and other officials.

In his brief address at the inauguration ceremony, Governor Satya Pal Malik congratulated the shrine board and other agencies associated with the project and said, "I hope the pilgrims enjoy the cable car ride. I want to congratulate you all for the successful completion of the project. We must also develop an effective rescue plan in case there's a mishap."

Earlier, it was painstaking for the yatris, particularly elderly people and heart patients, to visit Bhairav Ghati from Bhawan due to the difficult terrain and a trek of about 3.5 km.

While speaking to India Today TV, Simrandeep Singh said, "Earlier, it used to take more than an hour. Many yatris skipped visit to Bhairav Mandir. But the yatris can now travel to Bhairav Ghati from Bhawan in just 3 minutes. Rs 100 will be the charged for the ticket. It's a double cable, jig-back system. There are two cars. Fourty-five yatris can travel at a time in the cable car from Bhawan to Bhairav Ghati and simultaneously 45 yatris can come from Bhairav Ghati to Bhawan. It is a huge milestone for us.

Yatris welcome the cable cars at Vaishno Devi

The yatris have welcomed the opening of the cable car project and said that it would make their yatra easier and memorable.

"We are very excited to board the cable car. We no longer have to climb the hill to reach Bhairav Ghati. We are grateful to the shrine board for coming up with this project," one of the pilgrims said.

According to the shrine board, the Rs 850 crore project was executed by an association of a Swiss and an Indian company. The cable car project took about four years to complete.

The shrine board said they had hired private players to ensure a modern ticketing and security system. Special care has also been taken to ensure that there's no damage to the environment.

"Clearances were taken from the forest and wildlife department. We will plant more trees at the small bare stretch," Simrandeep Singh said.

The shrine board has said that it might come up with a similar project in future from Banganga to Bhawan.

While speaking to India Today TV, Simrandeep Singh also remembered the pioneering work done by former Jammu and Kashmir governor Jagmohan for the Vaishno Devi shrine. Singh said that the board would honour him for his services.

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