Katra, a town in Jammu, will completely close its shops and services on Wednesday, December 18, to protest against a new ropeway project costing ₹250 crores. This ropeway would connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, taking pilgrims to the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district.
Local shopkeepers, pony owners, and other workers are worried this project will hurt their businesses. They believe the ropeway will take pilgrims away from Katra’s market, which could cause many people to lose their jobs.
On December 15, hundreds of protesters marched through Katra’s main street, chanting against the shrine board’s decision to build the ropeway. Former minister Jugal Kishore Sharma joined the protest and said they are not against the shrine board but against the ropeway itself. “This project will take away our jobs and hurt our religious feelings,” he told the news agency PTI.
The protesters have previously expressed their concerns to a committee led by the divisional commissioner, but they haven’t seen any solutions. They feel ignored because the district administration promised them answers by December 15, but nothing has changed yet. In response, they have decided to renew their protests, including a hunger strike from five committee members during the shutdown.
Bhupinder Singh Jamwal, leader of the Vaishno Devi Trek Mazdoor Union, said they want official promises, either from the lieutenant governor or the home minister, stating no ropeway will be built.
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