Katra, Dec 26: Jammu and Kashmir police used force on Wednesday to disperse protesters opposing a proposed ropeway to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, leading to a scuffle that coincided with a 72-hour shutdown in Katra town.
The protests, organized by the Katra Sangharsh Samiti, include shopkeepers, eatery owners, and operators of ponies and palkis, who argue the ₹300 crore Katra-Sanjichhat ropeway will bypass the traditional Katra-Banga-Adi Kunwari route, affecting livelihoods tied to the 14-km pilgrimage trek.
“We have told them not to take new bookings as the agitation may be a long one,” a samiti leader said, urging local hotels to limit accommodations to pilgrims with prior bookings.
Police admitted to a “mild lathicharge” to prevent the protest march from escalating into a law and order issue. Protesters accused the police of detaining several individuals, though no official confirmation was provided.
“The protesters insisted on carrying on with their march, which had the potential to disturb law and order,” a local police official said.
The samiti claimed that recent talks with the Reasi district administration and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board were inconclusive. Former minister Jugal Kishore Sharma accused the administration of “derailing” discussions, while talking to The Indian Express.
“The ropeway will adversely affect those people whose livelihoods depend on the pilgrims taking the old route,” a samiti spokesperson said.
A police official clarified that the matter primarily concerns the Shrine Board, with the district administration acting only as a mediator.
While Katra’s streets were largely deserted on Wednesday, it was business as usual at the Vaishno Devi shrine, where hotels and other facilities remained operational.
The samiti warned that the agitation could be prolonged, advising businesses to brace for extended disruptions.
The ropeway, designed to connect Tarakote (near Katra) with Sanjichhat (2.5 km from the shrine), aims to reduce the arduous trek, saving time for pilgrims.
However, the project has drawn criticism from locals who fear it could undermine their economic reliance on the traditional trekking route.
The protests underscore tensions between development initiatives and community livelihoods, leaving authorities and locals locked in a standoff.
