Katra, July 30: A joint delegation of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Katra (HRAK) and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Jammu Region, on Thursday urged the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to minimise complete suspension of the Vaishno Devi Yatra during adverse weather and instead use alternative routes wherever safety permits.
The delegation, led by HRAK President and PHDCCI Chairman Rakesh Wazir, called on SMVDSB Chief Executive Officer Sachin Kumar Vaishya and submitted a memorandum seeking measures to improve pilgrim facilities, boost Yatra footfall, increase visitors’ stay in Jammu and Kashmir and strengthen the local economy.
The delegation appreciated the Shrine Board’s commitment to pilgrim safety and said the suspension of the Yatra following the recent flash flood tragedy was justified. However, it maintained that complete suspension of the pilgrimage should remain an exceptional measure.
Rakesh Wazir said frequent interruptions could adversely affect the long-term growth of the pilgrimage and impact tourism-dependent businesses in Katra. He suggested that during heavy rainfall or weather alerts, pilgrims should be diverted through safer alternative routes instead of halting the Yatra altogether.
He said the existing old track and the Tarakote route could be utilised, wherever considered safe, to ensure the pilgrimage continues without compromising safety.
The memorandum warned that repeated suspensions could discourage pilgrims at a time when major religious destinations across the country are competing to attract devotees.
HRAK Chairman Shyam Lal Kesar described pilgrimage tourism as the backbone of Katra’s economy and sought financial relief for Shrine Board licensees who suffered losses during periods when the Yatra remained suspended following the Pahalgam terror attack, the India-Pakistan conflict, the flash flood tragedy and subsequent weather-related restrictions.
The delegation requested waiver or refund of licence fees for the affected period or an extension of licence tenure, similar to the relief granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior Vice President HRAK and PHDCCI Katra Head Virender Kesar called for increasing manpower at RFID registration counters, particularly at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, to reduce waiting time during peak arrivals.
Other members of the delegation also sought preparation of a comprehensive master plan for Katra’s integrated development, including improvements in civic infrastructure, underground cabling, uninterrupted power and water supply, sanitation and other public amenities.
CEO SMVDSB Sachin Kumar Vaishya assured the delegation that all issues raised in the memorandum would be examined sympathetically.
