President Pranab Mukherjee visits Vaishno Devi

Mukherjee prayed for the progress and prosperity of the people of the country.

Earlier, the President, accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N. N. Vohra and Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Shrine Board, arrived at Panchhi Helipad on the New Track where he was received by Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of
the Shrine Board.

The President inaugurated the large Helipad which has been recently constructed by the Shrine Board to add to the existing facilities, particularly to meet any emergency at or near the shrine.

On reaching Bhawan, Mukherjee inaugurated Shridhar Elevator, in the presence of the Governor.

The elevator, which connects the track with Shridhar Bhawan, has been installed by the Shrine Board with a view to facilitate elderly, physically challenged, women and other pilgrims who face difficulty in climbing stairs to reach Shridhar Bhawan, Kalika Bhawan, SDM Office and Reception.

Later, the Governor briefed the President about the continuing initiatives being taken by the Shrine Board for the upgradation and expansion of the infrastructure for facilitating the progressively increasing number of pilgrims to the Holy Shrine.

He said that accommodation for pilgrims at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra and Jammu has been augmented and water and power supply is being augmented to meet the emerging requirements of the pilgrimage.

He added that health care facilities for the pilgrims have been further strengthened on the Tracks and at Bhawan.

He briefed Mukherjee about the upcoming Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence as a multi-specialty hospital at Kakryal, near Katra.
        
Vohra also briefed the President about the functioning of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University which has been established by the Shrine Board at Kakryal and the efforts underway to develop it as a major centre of excellence in teaching and research in the coming years.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)