Today, on August 19, the 71st Board meeting of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was held in Kakryal. The meeting was presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Members of the Board, including Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Dr. Ashok Bhan, Sh. Kul Bhushan Ahuja, Dr. Neelam Sareen, Sh. K K Sharma, Sh. Suresh Kumar Sharma, and Sh. Raghu K. Mehta, were present at the meeting.
Additionally present were Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, the Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, and Sh. Anshul Garg, the Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB.
The Board, which is chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, has given its permission in principle for the building of a new medical college in Kakryal, which would have 50 student seats and will likely cost between Rs. 350 and 450 crore.
The Board of Directors agreed that the SMVDNSH (Hospital of the Board) would need to increase the size of its operating base in order to handle a greater number of patients who need specialised care. Following long discussion, the Board of Directors gave its in-principle permission to the addition of 200 to 220 beds to the Hospital’s current capacity at an estimated cost of Rs. 120 crore.
The Board took notice of the stated position, had long debates, confirmed, and provided in-principle approvals to as many as 36 agenda items. These agenda topics had a variety of ramifications for the operation of the Board as well as the enhancement of pilgrim services.
In order to ensure that pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Board of Directors charged the Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB with the mission of working towards the development of the very finest facilities possible in accordance with the evolving needs. In accordance with the aforementioned, the Board of Directors has given its permission in principle to the building of a new Yatri-cum-Staff housing at Bhawan at an estimated cost of Rs. 31.51 crore.
During the conference, participants also discussed the current status of a number of large-scale infrastructure projects that are focused on the needs of pilgrims. These projects included the refurbishment and renovation of Parvati Bhawan as well as the extension of the Atka area.
The Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB told the Board that the prestigious projects that are now being worked on at Bhawan are having their progress sped up, and it is anticipated that they would be finished before the Shardiya Navratras. He also informed the Board about the numerous procedures that had been taken to prevent the back-and-forth movement of pilgrims in order to make the Darshan experience as smooth as possible.
The CEO Shrine Board was given the directive to hasten the building or renovation of the Shankaracharya Temple, in addition to the installation of a track and associated amenities, and it was emphasised that all stakeholders should be engaged for the acceptable settlement of all outstanding difficulties related to this topic.
The Chief Executive Officer updated the Chair on the Recent Action Taken Regarding Several Fronts Such As Employees’ Welfare (Including Restructuring of Various Cadres, Institution of Award Scheme to Recognise Outstanding Performers, etc.), The Amendment in Administrative, Financial, and Other Powers to be Exercised by Various Officers, The Disaster Management Initiatives that Have Been Undertaken Recently, and How These Have Helped Improve the Employees’ Level of Preparedness to Face Any Disaster.
The Board also gave its approval to the needed Grant-in-Aid for the FY 2023-24 in favour of the SMVD Charitable Society. This was done in order to support the operation of the Board’s peripheral institutions such as the Gurukul, Hospital, Sports Complex, and College of Nursing, all of which are handled by the SMVD Society.
The Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed that the provision of amenities for pilgrims is the Board’s uppermost concern, and that every measure must be done to ensure that pilgrims are able to complete their journey without encountering any difficulties.
He ordered the CEO Shrine Board to facilitate online reservations for the passenger ropeway so that worshippers would have easier access and be more comfortable. He continued by saying that it is necessary to protect the passengers’ safety.
In the midst of the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor, who also serves as the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, placed the e-foundation stones for Cottages and a mess Block near the SMVD Sports Complex Katra for the devotees and Staff lodging at Banganga. The total cost of this project is expected to be 14 crore rupees.
In addition to this, he published the Dogri translation of Panchtantra that was done by Dr. Neelam Sareen and inaugurated the newly redesigned website of the Shrine Board.
