Katra hoteliers demand early start of Katra-Shiv Khori chopper service

Jammu: The hoteliers of Katra demanded early start of Katra-Shiv Khori chopper service and ropeway at Shiv Khori on Public-Private Partnership to boost pilgrimage tourism and further generate economy to the exchequer of the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
A delegation of Hotel and Restaurant Association, Katra comprising of its President Rakesh Wazir, Senior Vice President, Virender Kesar, Members, Rajinder Singh Manhas, Mangal Singh, on Thursday met Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Ajay Kumar Sharma, who is also the Vice-Chairman Shiv Khori Shrine Board and Chairman District Development Council, Reasi Saraf Singh Nag and Assistant Director Tourism Ambika Bali and apprised of various issues pertaining to Shiv Khori Shrine and Katra Vaishno Devi.
The delegation requested that the Helicopter service between Katra–Shiv Khori-Katra and ropeway at Shiv Khori must be started on Public-Private Partnership basis at the earliest, which in addition to a big facility to the pilgrims will prove to be attraction to the pilgrims and will boost the Shiv Khori Yatra in a big way.
“Economy of Union Territory as well and no investment of the government will get involved because total investment will be made by the private investors and they are ready to invest,” Mr Wazir expressed.
He said that the way Yatra of Shiv Khori has increased manifold in the last few years has shown that the destination has got a lot of potential and if its facilities are increased further, it could go beyond 50 lakhs in coming years.
He further highlighted that the Aarti of Shiv Khori which was continuously telecasted live and gave push to Yatra was stopped and this exercise should be revived by inviting bids from various channels.
“Most of the economy of the Union Territory is dependent on the Vaishno Devi Yatra and it be ensured that at no cost, no further lockdown is imposed in Katra/Vaishno Devi area and since 100 percent COVID testing of the pilgrims is done while they enter at Katra/Jammu Railway Stations vis-à-vis at Jammu Airport and thus safety of the area is fully intact and thus at no point the Yatra of Vaishno Devi be curtailed or stopped,” he expressed.