Describing restoration and promotion of ancient road like to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine as a game-changer for bringing Nagrota at the central stage of Jammu’s heritage landscape, Provincial President National Conference and MLA Devender Singh Rana on Monday exuded confidence that this will eventually transform the entire constituency as an economic hub.“The credit for getting sanctioned the historic road link between Bamyal and Devi Mai via Oli-Mandir and construction of bridge goes to the people whose cooperation and support has enabled us to pursue all quarters and have the dream realized”, Devender Singh Rana told a huge rally that greeted him this afternoon to express gratitude for fulfillment of the long-standing demand.The rally of euphoric people, young and old, women and children, took the MLA Nagrota in a shape of procession to celebrate the restoration of the heritage road link to its pristine glory. The elders of the constituency felt nostalgic over the idea of revisiting the past when pilgrims used to travel through this route to seek blessings of The Mata.
True to the pluralistic ethos of the region, the road passes through several shrines revered by both Hindus and Muslims.Rana said that he had all along been wondering as to why this monumental heritage route has suffered neglect for decades even though the bliss of revered shrine on Trikuta Hills had transcended continents. “We have been envisioning restoration of this route and the firm resolve of the people made us to knock every door and have the Rs 15 crore- project sanctioned”, he said and hoped that completion of this road and the bridge will bring a new hope and promise for the entire area.The Provincial President referred to the economic fillip brought by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to entire state, especially the Jammu region, and said the day is not far when Nagrota will also be a major beneficiary. “Apart from fillip to the pilgrimage, this route will also prove an engine of economic prosperity for the people of the area”, he said, adding that Nagrota has immense potential for development as tourism, economic and sports hub of the Jammu region.The MLA Nagrota said the opening of the route to pilgrim traffic will enable people thronging from various parts of the country get to know the rich heritage of the historic place in the footsteps of Maa Durga.
The construction of the bridge at Oli Temple will connect Bamyal and Devi Mai Katra and the subsequent upgradation of the the Deva Mai Katra-Nagrota and Deva Mai Katra-Akhnoor roads via Mathwar and Agoor will reduce the distance of 45 kilometers between the holy township of Katra and Akhnoor. He said this will also unfold vistas of opportunities for bringing various historic places like Mathwar, Showa Mata, Oli Mata Temple and old traditional route of Maa Vaishnodevi Ji under focus. “Promotion of these areas as heritage pilgrimage sites will go a long way in promoting tourism”, Rana added.Rana congratulated the people for their endeavours bearing fruit and exhorted them to contribute in reviving the traditional hospitality that used to be high point of the areas on both sides of this ancient link to Mata Vaishno Devi. “With the bliss of Maa Durga, the day is not far when Nagrota will emerge as a place of our dreams”, he said while highlighting the strategic location of the constituency on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. He said the constituency has immense potential to be a proud gateway to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine as also the Kashmir Valley.
The MLA Nagrota pledged to strive for accomplishing the vision of the people by ensuring all round development of the constituency that will eventually bring economic cheer for its people.Prominent among those present in the rally included S.N.Khajuria, Kuldeep Singh Jamwal, Saraf Singh, Mohd.Showkat, Vijay Dev Singh, Chairman Rehmat Ali, Ex Sarpanch Mohd. Anwar, Joginder Lal, Asa Ram, Thoru Ram, Panch Ravi, Koushal Khajuria, Lamberdar, Puran Singh, Lamberdar Mahinder Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Jagdish Kumar, Puran Kumar, Suraj Singh, Davinder Kumar, Nazira Bibi, Dr Manzoor, Bashir Ahmed, Randhir Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Noor Shah, Noori, Liaqat, Mohd.Talib, Ram Singh, Manzoor, Bagh Hussain, Habib Hussain, Parshotam, Naseem, Abdul Ghani, Noor Mohd, Parshotam Kumar , Ali Hussain, Sunita, Sanjay Kumar, Liaqat, Ranjit, Sultan, Bittu Jamwal, Abdul Karim and others. (KNS)