72-Hour Protest in Katra Against Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Ropeway Initiative
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Jammu, Dec 26 (NationPress) The 72-hour protest against the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine ropeway initiative has now reached its second day in Katra, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.
The demonstration commenced on Wednesday and has seen participation from shoppers, transporters, hoteliers, and Pony and Palki Wallahs along with various other business owners opposing the planned ropeway project extending from Tarakote to Sanjhi Chhat.
In November, tensions escalated in Katra as confrontations occurred between the demonstrators and police forces, who intervened to disperse the crowd. Law enforcement contended that the protesters lacked the necessary authorization for their march.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti has called for this 72-hour shutdown, voicing their opposition to the proposed ropeway connecting Tarakote and Sanjhi Chhat.
With widespread backing from local stakeholders—including pony owners, shopkeepers, and transport operators—the shutdown has enveloped Katra in a profound silence. All commercial establishments are closed, and the streets appear deserted, leaving thousands of pilgrims without access to essential services.
Leading the protest is Bhupinder Singh, a prominent figure from the Sangharsh Samiti, who has accused both the government and the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board of disregarding public opinion. “The ropeway project endangers the livelihoods of countless individuals reliant on traditional pilgrimage routes. The administration's preference for force over dialogue is regrettable,” Singh informed reporters.
Among the supporters of the protest were BJP leader and former Minister Ajay Nanda, ex-Chairman of the Municipal Committee Katra Shashi Gupta, DDC Member Katra Nirmala Devi, and DDC Panthal Rajinder Mengi, who gathered at Shalimar Park to show their solidarity with the demonstrators.
The protesters assert that the proposed ropeway poses a threat to their livelihoods. Local shopkeepers, transporters, hoteliers, and pony and Palki wallahs are collectively demanding the cancellation of the Rs 300 crore project.
Designed to link Tarakote on the outskirts of Katra with Sanjichhat, located just 2.5 km from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, the ropeway aims to shorten the 14-km trek and bypass the conventional Katra-Ban Ganga-Adi Kunwari route. However, demonstrators argue that it would severely impact businesses along the traditional path.
