Ropeway row: Katra observes complete shutdown; admin seeks time till Dec 23

Srinagar, Dec 18: Katra town observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday in protest against the proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project, leaving hundreds of pilgrims stranded in Jammu city.
After brief consultations with newly appointed Deputy Commissioner Reasi, the Sangharsh Samiti decided to call off their strike on Thursday and announce to resume their protests on December 23, if demands will not be met.
The ropeway aims to connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat in Reasi district but has drawn criticism from local stakeholders. Carrying placards and wearing black armbands, protestors raised slogans against the shrine board and the project.
Alleging that the ropeway would destroy the livelihoods of local business owners, the Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, which claims to represent shopkeepers, pony operators and palanquin owners, led a protest march in the town and demanded that the project be cancelled.
Senior union leader and President of the Palki Association, Sohand Chand, told Rising Kashmir that a complete strike was observed on Wednesday in the historic town against the government’s proposal. We protested peacefully for our demands and it is a matter of our livelihood, he said.
“Later in the afternoon, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti met with Deputy Commissioner Reasi. DC has sought time of five days to analyse their demands. They asked us to wait till 23rd December and if demands will not be met, there will be an indefinite strike in the town,” Sohand said.
Bhupinder Singh Jamwal, President of the Vaishno Devi Trek Mazdoor Union said that Sangharsh Samiti is fighting for our rights as the board is out to snatch the bread and butter of over 60,000 families.
“Everyone including hoteliers, shopkeepers, pony operators, labourers and transporters — has come out to the streets against the ropeway project. We want the project to be cancelled,” he added.
“All political parties and social organisations in Jammu and Kashmir have extended their support to the protest. “We will fight for our rights. We will not tolerate this,” Jamwal said.
Former minister Jugal Kishore Sharma, who also joined the rally, said the government had failed to fulfil its commitment to resolve the issue by December 15.
Hundreds of pilgrims remained stranded in Jammu and Katra town due to the day-long strike. Later in the Wednesday evening, following assurances from local authorities, shops and business establishments reopened, bringing some relief to the affected pilgrims and residents.
Another local Sonu Thakur said that it is unfortunate that nobody came to listen their voice during the past one month. We will go for mass strike on Dec 23, if our demands will not met,” he said.
“If this project is to be setup, it will impact the livelihoods of hundreds of laborers, workers, and hoteliers in town. Katra will become a mere picnic spot, like Gulmarg. We will not let the government proceed with this plan,” he added.
Thakur said this historical track to Bhawan has spiritual importance and should not be viewed through a materialistic lens. We appeal to the government to review this proposal again, he added.
During the last week of November, protests were held in Katra against this proposed ropeway from Katra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhavan .