Lok Sabha Question No. 2250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Facility of Battery Cars to Pilgrims at Vaishno Devi
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2250

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2023/ PHALGUNA 23, 1944 (SAKA)

FACILITY OF BATTERY CARS TO PILGRIMS AT VAISHNO DEVI

†2250.      SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the establishment date of Shrimata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the details of the works undertaken for facilitating pilgrims and visitors since its establishment, year-wise, work-wise, place-wise;
- (b)  whether  during  the  last  two-three  years  Shrine  Board  has  started operating a new tarakote way from Katra to Ardhkumari and this way is being used by pilgrims and visitors along with petrol and diesel vehicles for supply of daily use items and construction materials;
- (c)  if  so,  whether  the Government is considering to start battery cars on this  new  tarakote  way  like  battery  cars  being  run  from  Ardhkumari  to Bhawan for facilitating pilgrims, if so, the time by which it is likely to be started and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  Shrine  Board  is  considering  to  run  40-42  battery  cars  in place of approximately 20-22 battery cars operational between Ardhkumari to Bhavan and also reduce their frequency from two hrs. to one hrs. each; and

(e) if so, the time by which the same is likely to be started and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a): As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  Government  of  Jammu  and

Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was established in the year

1986 in terms  of the Jammu & Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act,

## L.S.USQ.NO.2250 FOR 14.03.2023

1986.  The  details  of  the  works  undertaken  by  the  Shrine  Board  for  the facilitation  of  pilgrims  and  visitors  since  its  establishment  are  given  in Annexure.

The information regarding the activities taken by the Shrine Board are also  published  in  the  Administrative  report,  which  is  being  regularly published from 2016-17 onwards on the official website of the Board.

(b):    As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  Government  of  Jammu  and Kashmir, the new Tarakote track has been opened for pedestrian pilgrims. However, limited vehicles are permitted to ply on this route for transportation  of  supplies/construction  material,  ambulances  for  medical evacuation  of  the  patients and  fire tenders  and  other  vehicles for mitigating any eventuality/disaster.

(c): The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has informed that operation of  Battery  Operated  Vehicles  (BOVs) has  not  been  found  feasible  on  the Tarakote track due to challenging terrain, steep  gradient at most of  the locations, sharp turns etc.

(d) & (e): As  on  date,  20-23  Nos.  of  BOVs  with  the  capacity  of  7  +  1 persons  per  vehicle  ply  daily  on  Himkoti  Marg  for  ferrying  pilgrims  from Ardhkumari  to  Bhawan  and  back  between  8 AM to 10 PM.   However, to

## L.S.USQ.NO.2250 FOR 14.03.2023

ensure  uninterrupted  services  for  the  intending  pilgrims,  08  additional BOVs are placed in backup to replace the discharged operational BOVs.

Deploying  additional  BOVs  may  lead  to  congestion  due  to  limited carrying capacity of  track and also due to insufficient parking space for additional vehicles.

*****

## L.S.USQ.NO.2250 FOR 14.03.2023

## A. Various activities undertaken by the Shrine Board:

- I. Establishment  of  Yatra  Registration  Counters :  For  the  registration  of visiting pilgrims, the Shrine Board has established yatra registration counters at different locations of Katra & Jammu.
- II. Helicopter  Services: Helicopter  services  are  in  operation  since  1993  from Katra to Sanjichhat and back for ferrying of  pilgrims  especially  those  who  are aged,  handicapped,  infirm  and  others  who  are  unable  to  negotiate  the  steep climb on the hilly track. The services are being provided by the Shrine Board to the pilgrims on tendered lowest cost basis.
- III. Battery  Operated  Vehicle  services were  started  in  October  2003  from Adhkuwari to Bhawan and vice versa on the Himkoti Marg in order to facilitate patients, aged, infirm and handicapped pilgrims.
- IV. RFID Registration of Mules & Porters : In 2017-18, the Shrine Board started E-registration of all porters, horses / ponies along with their operators plying on the track through a biometric card which facilitated in operating traffic management system on the track through RFID technology.
- V. Call Centre: To provide information related to the pilgrimage of the Holy Shrine through  single  window  and  facilitate  pilgrims,  a  Hi-tech,  round  the  clock  Call Centre has been established at Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra.

## VI.

- Prasad Management Unit: With the aim of availability of Prasad of  Mata Ji to the devotees at their door steps  through  Postal  Services,  a  dedicated  Prasad  Management  Unit  has  been established.
- VII. Disaster Management  Task Forces / Stores : A series of disaster management stores equipped with the latest gadgets have been established at all the prime / vital locations of the Shrine Board enroute track alongwith a well trained  and energetic team of Disaster Management Task Forces at respective locations to handle any untoward incident / natural calamities on the track .

## B. Various Projects (Completed) by the Shrine Board:

## I. Spiritual Growth Centre at Katra

Development of a Spiritual Growth Centre (SGC) at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.93 crore was inaugurated in November 2011. This Centre comprises an auditorium with a seating capacity of 460 persons, a library, amphitheatre, exhibition halls, Audio-Visual Room, Conference Halls, meditation Hall & Prayer Hall etc.

## II. Yatris Accommodations

Requisite  infrastructure,  like  accommodation,  electricity,  water,  good  sanitary conditions,  dispensaries,  telephones  etc.,  has  been  established.  Some  of  the important existing facilities are as below:

- i. Near the Railway Station Jammu, The Vaishnavi Dham, Kalika Dham and Sarswati Dham.
- ii. At  Katra, Niharika  Complex , Shakti  Bhawan , Trikuta  Bhawan , Ashirwad Bhawan and Spiritual Growth Centre .
- iii. At  Adhkuwari,  a  five  storeyed  dormitory  complex  namely Shailputri Bhawan .
- iv. At Sanjichhat, 10 bedded dormitory and 8 rooms for accommodating the Yatris.
- v. At Bhawan, Main Bhawan, Gouri  Bhawan and  Vaishnavi  Bhawan and covered areas/halls for the general public, Complexes namely the Parvati Bhawan , Manokamna Bhawan Phase-I and a free accommodation complex namely Manokamna Phase - II .

## III. Construction of Tarakote Marg

Tarakote Marg has been built by the Shrine Board. Besides, 1.5 km link road has also  been  constructed  to  connect  the  traditional  Banganga  Marg  to  the  new Tarakote Marg.

Various  facilities  have  been  created  along  the  Marg,  which  include  Slope Stabilization  Works,  Darshani  Deodi,  Frisking  Points,  Bhojanalayas,  Dispensary, Ultra  filtered  drinking  water  points,  Welded  Mesh  all  across the  track,  Modular Shelter Sheds, Illumination of the Marg through LED lighting, Toilet blocks and Viewpoints.

The Shrine Board has also started Langar Facility for the Yatris on 09-05-2019 on the Tarakote Marg.

## IV. Construction of Temple Complex Adhkuwari:

At  its  26 th Meeting  (held  on  29 th November  1997),  the  Shrine  Board  had accorded  in-principle  approval  for  undertaking  the  remodeling  of  Adhkuwari Complex consisting of various components to be taken up in a phased manner. As  a  part  of  the  above  project,  the  construction  of  a  double  storey  Temple Complex  at  Adhkuwari  (including  the  Queues  with  steel  pipes  &  railing  and Waiting Hall) was also taken-up for the facilitation of the pilgrims.

## V. Emergency Helipad near Panchi Staff Colony

The Shrine Board had constructed a Helipad at Sanjichhat, which is being utilized for the private helicopter service contracted by the Shrine Board for the benefits of the pilgrims. The new Helipad near Panchi Staff Colony was completed on 047-2014 and made functional.

## VI. Alternate Track (Himkoti Marg)

Construction of a new track with a very gradual gradient was undertaken in the early 1990s. The new track, popularly called the Himkoti Marg, was thrown open to the public in 1999.

Adequate numbers of toilet blocks have been constructed on the Alternate Track with  a  view  to  provide  clean  public  utilities  to  the  visiting  devotees.  Sufficient numbers of Shelter Sheds are also available. A zero-emission battery vehicle is run on this track.

## VII. Water Supply Schemes

Following Water Supply Schemes were implemented:

| S. No   | Name of Scheme                                                                                                     | Installed Capacity (in GLPD)              |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1.      | Siar Dabri Tube Well (Ground Water) I                                                                              | 3,00,000                                  |
| 2.      | Siar Dabri Tube Wells (Ground Water) II+ III                                                                       | 2,10,000                                  |
| 3.      | Pai Nallah (Gravity Source at zero state Bhawan)                                                                   | 2,00,000                                  |
| 4.      | Samkhal (Gravity source)                                                                                           | 40,000                                    |
| 5.      | Bhagh-e-Wala Ghrat Spring source                                                                                   | 1,50,000                                  |
| 6.      | Dhansar Pai Nallah scheme At present water being pumped from it: 3,00,000 GLPD Scheme envisaged for: 6,00,000 GLPD | 6,00,000                                  |
| Total   | Total                                                                                                              | 15,00,000 GLPD /6.8 million litre per day |

Besides this, a systematic network of Reservoirs has been created from Katra to Bhawan for storage of water and its supply at Track.

## IX.

## L.S.USQ.NO.2250 FOR 14.03.2023

- VIII. Toilet Blocks enroute Bhawan All  the  existing  toilet  blocks  on  the  traditional  &  alternate  tracks  have  been

remodeled and upgraded.

- Passenger Ropeway (Between Bhawan & Bhairon Temple)

An imported 'Bi-cable Jig Back Double Reversible fixed grip Passenger Ropeway with a cabin capacity of 45+1 & hourly capacity of 800 passengers' was setup between Bhawan and Bhairon Temple in December, 2018.

- X. Material Ropeway Project

To ensure decongestion on the track from mules carrying material, an indigenous  Bi-Cable  Jig  Back  Double  Reversible  Material  Ropeway  has  been installed at SiarDabri, Katra for transportation of material from Katra to Bhawan.

- XI. Construction of Tripti Bhojanalaya at Bhawan: Tripti Bhojanalaya has been constructed at Bhawan and opened for the pilgrims in February 2023.
- XII. Multipurpose Audio-Video System and Multipurpose Audio System

The multipurpose Audio - Video System has been installed on the track primarily covering  the  Live  Aarti,  Yatra  Facilities,  Advisory  etc.  with  06  Outdoor  Video Walls  and  20  Indoor  LED  Screens.  In  addition,  2160  speakers  have  been installed enroute the track.

*****