Jammu: Hundreds of shopkeepers and labourers participated in a protest march on Sunday, marking the third day of their strike against the proposed rope-way project along the Vaishno Devi shrine trek route in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. Organisers have extended the strike by 24 hours, officials said.
The protesters held sit-ins at various locations in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine on Trikuta hills, chanting slogans against the shrine board and the ropeway project, which they fear will lead to job losses.
The three-day strike, initiated by shopkeepers, pony owners, and palanquin operators, began on Friday after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced its plan to proceed with the ₹250-crore ropeway project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chhat along the 12-km route, set to be completed in two years.
“The 72-hour strike has been extended by another 24 hours. We will reconvene to decide our next steps,” said a member of the joint committee of shopkeepers and pony operators.
On Sunday, protesters held a peaceful rally along the traditional shrine route, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the project or adequate rehabilitation for affected families. Most shops along the first 3 km of the trek remained closed, and pony and palanquin services were suspended, causing difficulties for devotees.
Joining the protest, J&K Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Manish Sahni said the ropeway project would hurt Hindu religious sentiments and harm those reliant on providing services to pilgrims. Congress leader and labor union head Bhupinder Singh Jamwal urged the government to introduce a rehabilitation plan, proposing ₹20 lakh in financial aid for each affected laborer.
The shrine board had recently revived the long-delayed ropeway project, which aims to provide a safer and faster journey for pilgrims. “This project will be a game-changer, especially for those who struggle with the steep trek to the shrine,” said Shrine Board CEO Anshul Garg.
The project was previously shelved due to similar protests.
