Chairs 75th Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Meet, Unveils Key Pilgrim Facilities
KD NEWS SERVICE
KATRA, June 24: In a significant step towards improving pilgrim services and infrastructure, Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Monday chaired the 75th meeting of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra.
The meeting marked a new chapter with the presence of newly appointed Board members, including Mahamandleshwar Shri Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Shri Baleshwar Rai, Dr. Ashok Bhan, Smt. Sudha Murty, Smt. Gunjan Rana, Dr. K.K. Talwar, Shri Kulbhushan Ahuja, Shri Lalit Bhasin, and Shri Suresh Kumar Sharma.
Also in attendance were Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the LG, and Shri Anshul Garg, CEO SMVDSB.
Welcoming the new members, the Lieutenant Governor underscored the importance of their role in safeguarding the shrine’s sanctity and boosting its infrastructure. He also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing members for their dedicated service to the shrine.
During the session, the Board reviewed its past decisions and discussed 21 agenda items critical to pilgrim welfare and infrastructure enhancement. Major approvals included the construction of a new Exit Track and the remodelling of the Manokamna area at Bhawan, development of New Vaishnavi Bhawan, and widening of the Sanjichhat-Bhawan track.
To enhance accessibility, the Board approved the development of a helipad in Katra and reviewed the status of a new helipad project at Village Hutt—a joint effort with Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board. Expressing concern over delays, the Board directed the BRO to complete the helipad by October 2025.
Highlighting the importance of sustainability, the Board reviewed renewable energy projects and approved a 100% sewerage network across the Shrine area.
Special focus was laid on pilgrim-centric services. The LG called for the expansion of the Yatri Feedback System to all services with regular monitoring, emphasizing that real-time insights from pilgrims are key to service delivery reforms.
To further aid devotees, the Board instructed the CEO to explore volunteer engagement along the Yatra route for on-ground assistance and guidance.
Recognizing the risks posed by landslides and falling stones, the LG also directed identification of vulnerable stretches along the pilgrimage track and the implementation of appropriate safety measures.
In a major boost to security infrastructure, LG Sinha inaugurated an Integrated Command and Control Centre at Katra along with seven sub-control units to ensure real-time surveillance and crowd management.
The Board approved dedicating five newly built temples in Reasi district to the public in July 2025 and gave nod to five more temples with a focus on uniform heritage-aligned architecture.
The Board also sanctioned financial assistance under the SMVD Charitable Society for various institutions, including Gurukul, Hospital, Sports Complex, College of Nursing, and Medical College.
On the sidelines of the meeting, several pilgrim-friendly facilities were inaugurated. These include a Battery Car Parking stand at Bhawan—offering ease of access to elderly and disabled pilgrims—an Outer Cave Shed made of laminated glass for all-weather comfort, a Self-Service Kiosk with a Digital Cash Register, and 300 RFID-enabled Smart Lockers near the Skywalk for secure storage of personal belongings.
Additionally, a new dormitory block at SMVD Gurukul was inaugurated, built at a cost of ₹71.82 lakh, adding capacity for 32 more students and boosting the academic infrastructure.
Earlier, CEO Shri Anshul Garg presented a detailed progress report on the Shrine Board’s ongoing projects and implementation of previous decisions.
The 75th Board meeting reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to enhancing the overall experience for devotees, ensuring safety, sustainability, and spiritual sanctity.
