Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir), October 16, 2010 - 
The Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, inaugurated a large accommodation complex, the second phase of Manokamna Bhawan, in the Bhawan area.
Constructed by the Shrine Board at a cost of approximately Rs. 4.5 crore, this complex shall augment the existing accommodation facilities for those pilgrims who wish to stay free of charge.
The Manokamna Bhawan (Phase-II) comprising four floors will provide free of cost accommodation to nearly 500 pilgrims. This complex has been equipped with a Bhojanalaya (restaurant), for providing food at very reasonable prices, and a blanket store, cloak room and laundary.
Earlier the Governor visited Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine today on the auspicious occasion of Mahanavami and paid obeisance at the Holy Shrine. He offered “Purna Ahuti” at the conclusion of the 9-day long Chhat Chandi Maha Yagya organized by the Shrine Board.
The Governor, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shrine Board, Mr. R. K. Goyal, and other officers, reviewed the various facilities for the pilgrims. He also inspected the various ongoing development/ upgradation works and spent considerable time in viewing the work done by the Shrine Board’s Forest Division to grow flowers of varied varieties and plant saplings of flowering bushes and trees. The several thousand trees planted in the preceding monsoon also include a good number of fruit trees. Good work has also been done to cut the grass and prune the existing trees all along the tracks as a part of the anti-fire measures. The Governor had given particular instructions on his last visit about the need to undertake a campaign for beautifying the hillsides, on all sides of the routes to the Shrine.
The Governor, while expressing satisfaction in regard to the facilities for the visiting pilgrims, stressed the need for continuous upgradation, modernization and expansion of infrastructure and other facilities to meet the futuristic requirements of the progressively increasing pilgrimage. The CEO informed that special efforts have been made for very early completion of several ongoing construction works which include the remodeling of Adhkwari complex, widening/ improvement of existing track at several locations, augmentation of existing toilet/ bath facilities along the track and face-lifting of the entire Shrine area.
The Governor, enroute Sanjichhat to the Holy Cave, and at the Bhawan, interacted with the pilgrims and took feedback about the facilities made available for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
