KATRA, JANUARY 27: The 74th Gantantra Diwas was celebrated with traditional fervor and patriotism at Katra, the base town to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
The main function at Katra was held at the Shrine Board's Sports Complex, where Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, unfurled the tricolor and took salute at an impressive march-past by the contingents drawn from J&K Police, CRPF, NCC, besides the students of various educational institutions.
On the occasion, Anshul Garg while greeting the people paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters saying that the Nation owes gratitude to these great leaders who sacrificed their lives to secure freedom. He underscored various major infrastructure development projects ongoing and those in the pipeline for facilitation of the pilgrims, besides, steps taken by the Board for mitigation and crowd management under the directions and guidance of Hon’ble Chairman, SMVDSB (Lt. Governor, JK-UT). These include completion of 5-storey Durga Bhawan by Chaitra Navratras which has provisions to accommodate 2500 pilgrims on a daily basis, bound to give a new shape and structure to the comforts and convenience of the pilgrims visiting the Holy Shrine. Besides, construction of 200 mtr. long Sky-Walk at Bhawan with wooden flooring conceptualized by the Shrine Board to overcome the problem of multidirectional flow of yatra and a chaotic condition at Bhawan with provision of seating arrangements for senior citizens, divyang & ladies.
The Chief Executive Officer said that with the determined efforts of the Shrine Board and blessings of the Divine, a record 91.25 lakh devotees paid obeisance in the year-2022, the highest annual figure since 2013. He asserted that the safety and security of pilgrims is top priority of Shrine Board and in this endeavour, for the purpose of real-time tracking of pilgrims on the track, ensure proper crowd management and to manage registration of pilgrimage in seamless / hassle free way, the Shrine Board has started issuance of free RFID based yatra access cards. The arrangement is established to check flow of pilgrims strictly as per the holding capacity of the track/area/location etc. The system of RFID tracking of pilgrims includes e-surveillance through a dedicated CCTV network of over 700 cameras with proper end-to-end MIS reporting on a real time basis. He also reiterated various measures mainly based on digitization and e-mode initiatives by the Shrine Board with the collaboration of J&K Bank, HDFC bank and PayTM.
The Chief Executive Officer also underscored the development of a Spiritual Theme Park by the Shrine Board around Katra in a 50 acre area. He said that having such a facility in northern India would prolong the stay of pilgrims, giving a fillip to the town’s economy.
The Chief Executive Officer also contended about the enlargement in the Atka area which is also likely to be completed by forthcoming Navratras thereby increasing the seating capacity from 230 to 400 devotees in morning and evening Atka arti. He also underscored gesture of Shrine Board started during the preceding Navratra which shall now continue during Navratra of free pony and battery car services with priority darshans to ‘Divyang' devotees at sanctum sanctorum. In addition, he said that free Pharmacy is also available for specially-abled patients on all medical purchases at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.
The CEO also asserted that continuing with the initiatives for the creation, upgradation and expansion of civic amenities at Katra, Shrine Board has taken up works at Government High School and Hansali circular road. He also highlighted many government schemes initiated had now reached the doorsteps of people including Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Land reforms and various digitization services by the government besides, the construction of six-lane Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway by which the travel time from Delhi to Vaishno Devi will be reduced to six hours. He underscored that the setting of Inter Model Station has been mooted at Katra so that the pilgrims could move from one mode to another with minimum intervention/use of automobiles which is destined to improve the travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting Katra.
He said that we must not only strive to nurture but also seek to preserve the country's rich cultural heritage and legacy based on principles of Indian constitution to become Vishwa Guru once again in the next 25 years which is being recognized as Amrit Kaal.
Earlier, the students of various educational institutions presented a colorful scintillating cultural programme on this occasion based on the theme of patriotism and national integration. Anshul Garg also gave away cash prizes and appreciation to the outstanding staff of Shrine Board in the categories of Ministerial, Catering, Para-Medical, Transport, Forest & Floriculture, general and best performing Unit besides, to Students who were adjudged best in the march-past and presentation of cultural programme.
Among those present on the occasion were Vimal Indu, President, Municipal Committee, Katra; Navneet Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board; Angrej Singh, SDM, Katra; Amit Bhasin, Addl. SP, Katra; Yad Ram Bunker, Commandant, 6th Bn. CRPF; Dr. Sunil Sharma; Dr. Jagdish Mehra; Chander Parkash Jt. CEOs; Vishavjeet Singh Dy CEO; Vipan Bhagat Asstt. CEO, Managers, Engineers and staff of the Shrine Board. Others who participated in the function included Members of BDC, Hotel Association, Municipal Committee, Katra, Civil, Police and Security Forces Officers, Prominent Citizens, Heads of various Educational Institutions, Media Persons, a large number of people of the area, teachers, school children and the pilgrims.
As part of the Republic Day celebrations, Sh. Anshul Garg, also hoisted the tricolour at the Central Office of the Shrine Board at Katra.
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