Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 16: The much-awaited new track, to be started from Reasi end, will soon be made functional for the pilgrims thus giving respite particularly those having health-related problems. ''The work on new track from Reasi end to Adh Kuwari is in full swing and hopefully, the route will be thrown open by end of the year for the devotees,'' an official here told.
He said that the new track is also having almost same distance of around 7 kms as of old track from Baan Ganga but it has smooth gradients, which would surely be helpful for old age and pilgrims suffering from some ailments. ''The track is almost ready and lights have also been installed but the work on eatries, medical facilities and other requirements, which are must on the way for the pilgrims, are under progress,'' he added.
The project, which started around six years ago, is almost at completion and hopefully it may get functional by year end, they asserted. In early 1990s, keeping in view the increased influx of pilgrims and the inconvenience faced by them due to the movement of ponies, the sharp gradient at Hathimatha and the congested width of the old track, the construction of a new track from Adh Kuwani to Bhawan with a very gradual gradient was undertaken.
The previous new track popularly called the alternate track was thrown open to the public in 1999, on which no ponies are allowed and is shorter and gentler than the old track and has been widely appreciated by the pilgrims. The alternate track starts from just below Adhkuwari near Inderprastha view point and terminates just short of Bhawan Complex.
''It is 500 meters shorter than the old track and is much more wider as compared to the existing track and is also easier to negotiate because of uniformity of climb and lower gradient,'' said an official.
Battery vehicle facility also is available at Inderprasth (Adhkuwari) and Manokmana Bhawan for infirm, sick and handicap devotees. In 2015, 77.76 lakh pilgrims from across the country visited the cave shrine while this July so far 7,16,721 had paid obeisance. |
