Seven years in the making, a prestigious development programme of the famous Hazratbal Shrine will be dedicated to the people by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar when he speaks from the Bakshi Stadium on Thursday. The foundation stone of the project was laid by then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in 2017 when there was a PDP-BJP government in the state, but it has been seen through by the Centre.
Sources in the government told News18 that this has been a project close to the PM’s heart, with Hazratbal being one of the most prominent Muslim shrines in the country. The Dargah houses the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad. Located on the western flanks of the Dal Lake, the Hazratbal Shrine is among the most visited religious places in J&K and saw an enhancement in facilities for devotees and beautification under the Rs 45-crore programme.
“To create world-class infrastructure and amenities for pilgrims and tourists visiting the Hazratbal Shrine, and to enhance their holistic spiritual experience, the project ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ has been executed. The key components of the project include site development of the entire area including the construction of the boundary wall of the Shrine; the Illumination of the Hazratbal shrine Precinct; the Improvement of Ghats and Devri Paths around the Shrine; Construction of Sufi interpretation centre; Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre; Installation of Signages; Multilevel Storied Car parking; Construction of Public Convenience Block and entrance Gateway of the Shrine,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
The Centre had approved the project in 2016-17 under the Union Tourism Ministry’s ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD). The idea was to give an unobstructed view of Dal Lake from the shrine complex and have tensile structures for prayers during summers and rainy seasons, four-laning of the Dargah entrance, illumination of the complex and other devotee facilities. The PRASAD scheme aims at enhancing pilgrim conveniences and improvement of connectivity.
An inner approach, landscaping and renovation of other facilities have since happened at the Hazratbal shrine. The entrance courtyard saw a revamp too. New signages have also come up in and around the Hazratbal shrine now.
The shrine had seen a major siege by terrorists in 1993 and 1996. Security has ever since been tight around Hazratbal in the heart of Srinagar.
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