Vaishno Devi to get Canadian makeover

Encouraged by the huge rush of pilgrims, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), an autonomous body conducting the Hindu pilgrimage at Katra in the Jammu region, has decided to involve Canadian architects in designing Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan.

The project to give a new look to the Bhawan is estimated to cost about Rs 5 crore and work is expected to be launched by July.

The board has started a university in Jammu, besides running various social institutions.

The project has been formulated to renovate and give an aesthetic touch to the century's old widely revered natural cave shrine of goddess Vaishno Devi, which attracts millions of pilgrims every year to the winter capital Jammu.

"We have already hired architects from Canada, apart from ones from within the country, to give us designs and we expect them to be ready by June. Work will immediately start after the approval of the designs by the board of directors," a top official of the board said.

Officials of the board expect the all time increase in the pilgrim tourists this year and project the number to seven million. Last year, 6.251 million pilgrims visited the shrine while in 2004, the number was 6.109 million.

"Up to April 17 this year, 1.447 million pilgrims had visited the shrine while 1.140 million pilgrims visited during the corresponding period in 2005," the shrine board official said.

Apart from giving facelift to the shrine, there would increase in the accommodation capacity at the Bhawan from present 1200-1500 to 3000-3500 individuals under the project.

"This is for the first time in 20 years history of Shrine Board that Rs 50 crore project is being formulated for renovation of the Bhawan and surroundings," the official said.

Pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi is considered one of the biggest contributing factors in the business in Jammu.

The pilgrimage has resulted in huge proliferation of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, and other business establishments.

"It's beyond doubt, one of the most visible and key contributing factor in the Jammu economy," said a tourism department official.