Katra workers optimistic, await Vaishno Devi Temple Board response

Maintaining their opposition to the proposed ropeway to the Vaishno Devi temple at Katra in Jammu, workers in Katra remain optimistic of a solution on December 23 when the board that manages the temple is expected to give its response to their opposition to the construction of the ropeway which these workers feel will take their sole source of livelihood away.

For the past several week, Katra, a spiritual and pilgrim hub, has been shaken by protests against the proposed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ropeway, which aims to cut the arduous trek to the shrine, which is visited by tens of millions of pilgrims every year.

Earlier this week, local workers, including pony operators and palanquin bearers, staged a peaceful shutdown of the town in Jammu. The ropeway has been proposed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which manages the temple that is said to be one of the wealthiest in northern India. After the shutdown, the representatives of the workers held a meeting with the members of the board who promised to give their response by December 23 on the proposed ropeway.

As the December 23 meeting approaches, they remain hopeful that their livelihoods and cultural heritage will be safeguarded.

The controversy erupted in late November when Anshul Garg, CEO of the board, announced installation of a ropeway which is expected to drastically reduce the current 4-5 hour trek to the shrine into just six minutes. Garg said the ropeway would be built at a cost of INR 2.5 billion.

This announcement led to widespread protests among the local community, as they feel their long-standing role in supporting the pilgrimage will be undermined. For decades, about 50,000 persons living in and around Katra have depended upon providing support services to the pilgrims by helping them in the trek either on their palanquins and ponies or working as porters as well as provision of food and water all along the 12-km route. These workers say that installation of a ropeway would immediately take away the sole source of livelihood that a hill town like Katra offers and on which they have depended for generations.

The shutdown on Wednesday drew a good response across the town, indicating the popularity of the opposition to the project in Katra.

The protestors, who were backed by several local organistions, marched from Shalimar Park, carrying placards and wearing black armbands to express their opposition. Slogans against the shrine board and the ropeway project echoed through the streets as the community voiced their concerns about the future of their livelihoods

The protestors, demanding that the project be scrapped, argued that the ropeway’s construction would severely impact the community’s ability to earn a living.

One such protestor is Jahangir Khan, a 26-year-old pony operator who has spent years guiding pilgrims up the rugged mountains to the Vaishno Devi shrine. For him and many others like him, the proposed ropeway project represents more than just a threat to their jobs, it is a direct challenge to their way of life.

“This is not just a job for us, it is our tradition, our heritage. For generations, my family has been part of this pilgrimage. Now, with this ropeway, everything we have built could be lost,” Khan tells Media India Group.

For Khan each pilgrim he serves brings sustenance to his family and a sense of purpose to his days. But now, the proposed INR 2.5 billion ropeway project threatens to unravel the fragile balance of his world.

“My father taught me everything about this job. This is all I know, and if the ropeway comes, what will happen to us? The horses cannot climb steel cables. But we are still hopeful. We hope that the government will understand the importance of our work and our heritage. We are not against progress, but we believe that there must be a way to modernise the pilgrimage without completely eliminating our livelihoods. We are hopeful that on December 23, the authorities will see our struggle and make a decision that protects our future, our families, and the culture we have preserved for generations,” Khan adds.

Shabir Ahmad, a 32-year-old palanquin bearer who has been carrying pilgrims up the steep trails since 2004, shares Khan’s hope for a positive outcome. He too fears the drastic changes the ropeway could bring to his livelihood and the sacred pilgrimage.

“This work is not just a means to survive, it is a part of who we are. For years, we have carried pilgrims on our shoulders, guiding them with care and respect. The journey to Vaishno Devi is not just a physical one, it is a spiritual one, and it is meant to be experienced slowly, over hours, as a journey of faith. The essence of the pilgrimage lies in the struggle, in the effort, and the connection that is built with each step taken up the mountain. If the ropeway takes that away, what will be left of this sacred tradition,” Ahmad tells Media India Group.

Ahmad emphasises that the act of walking to the shrine, no matter how gruelling, holds deep spiritual significance.

“It is not just about reaching the top, it is about the experience, the devotion, and the challenge of the climb. Pilgrims who walk up the mountain understand the meaning of this journey. The long trek, the physical exertion, the prayers, and the sweat it all brings a deeper connection to the divine. That is what makes this pilgrimage so special. If the ropeway comes, it will strip away the soul of this journey, and that is something we can never get back,” Ahmad adds.

As debates around the proposed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ropeway project intensify, the concerns of Katra’s residents and workers grow louder. From pony operators to hoteliers, the local community feels sidelined by a development initiative that, while promising convenience, threatens their livelihoods and the essence of the pilgrimage itself.

Ashok Verma, a hotel manager in Katra, voices his frustration over the lack of community involvement in the project.

“What kind of development is this when the people living here, the ones who make the pilgrimage the experience that it is, are not happy. We have built our businesses and lives around this sacred journey. If the ropeway is built, fewer pilgrims will need to stay overnight, and our hotels, restaurants, and shops will suffer. Development should uplift people, not destroy entire communities. We are hopeful the authorities will understand this and reconsider the project before it’s too late,” Ashok Verma, Manager of ‘The Elite’, a budget hotel, in Katra, tells Media India Group.

For Verma and his fellow workers, the upcoming meeting on December 23 with the authorities is their last hope for securing a future that honours both their tradition and their survival.

However, while the labourers express deep concern over the proposed ropeway, many frequent pilgrims see the project as a welcome step forward. Ashok Kumar Jha, a marketing associate from Delhi and regular visitor to Vaishno Devi, shares his optimism about the development.

“This is a good thing, and people should embrace it. I understand the concerns, but I don’t believe it directly impacts livelihoods as much as is being said. For example, there have been helicopter services operating for years, yet traditional methods of reaching the shrine have continued to thrive. The ropeway will offer an option for those who genuinely need it, like the elderly or those with health issues, without replacing the traditional journey for those who prefer it. Development doesn’t have to mean the end of tradition it can complement it,” Jha tells Media India Group.

“If I had to choose between the ropeway and trekking or riding a horse, I would always prefer the trek. The essence of this pilgrimage lies in the journey, the effort, the chants of Jai Mata Di along the way, and the connection with fellow devotees. It is a humbling experience that deepens your faith,” Jha adds.

As Katra awaits the December 23 meeting, the community remains hopeful that their voices will be heard. While progress is welcomed, locals urge authorities to consider their livelihoods and cultural heritage, striving for a resolution that balances tradition with development.