Routes to shrines in Jammu region to be illuminated

Routes to shrines in Jammu region to be illuminated
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 10
After facing criticism for its failure to install lights en route famous religious places in the Jammu region, the state government has decided to illuminate the tracks leading to the shrines.

The people have requested the authorities concerned several times to develop the surroundings of the famous shrines and install lights on their routes so that the devotees could be facilitated.

MK Dhar, Deputy Director, Tourism, Jammu, said, “All the shrines, ziyarats and other religious places in the Jammu region will be covered under a project approved by the Tourism Minister to illuminate the tracks where the pilgrims have to walk to the shrines to pay obeisance.”

He added, “High-mast lights will be installed at these places, which will cost between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 35 lakh. We have invited tenders for the purpose so that the installation of lights can be started at the earliest.”

Though the issue had been raised a number of times in both Houses of the Legislature, nothing had been done so far.

With the project getting the Tourism Minister’s approval, department officials said once the lights were installed, the pilgrims visiting the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi, the Machail temple in the Paddar area of Kishtwar district, the Shiv temple at Purmandal in Samba district and Shahdra Sharief in Rajouri district would be facilitated.

These are important religious places, where a large number of devotees pay obeisance.

The officials said it was a long-pending demand of the people of the region and once the lights were installed, the number of pilgrims would increase.