Jammu, September 22: A new golden gate is set to welcome devotees visiting the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. The gate has been decorated with flowers from different parts of the world and is set to greet pilgrims visiting the holy shrine. Simrandeep Singh, CEO of the Shrine Board informed that the the Shrine will have a golden gate outside the natural cave this year which will a permanent feature. "It will be a permanent feature. The work on this started 3-months back and it is in the last phase of its completion now", Singh said.

According to details by shrine board officials, about 12 kg of gold, 1,200 kg of copper and 1,100 kg of silver have been used in the construction of the gate. The 'golden gate' at the entrance of the cave shrine, is at the final stage of completion, and illuminated tracks will the new additions during this year's Navratras which will commence on September 29 and culminate on October 7. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Among Best Swachh Iconic Places Declared by Ministry of Jal Shakti.

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However, Singh informed that it is unlikely that the work will be completed by Navratras. He said there's a project where about 350 cameras will be installed around the shrine. "It's master control room will be in Katra; police, CRPF, shrine board will do joint monitoring. That'll be a permanent feature this year end onwards", Singh added.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for the devotees as around four lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir during the upcoming Navratra festival. Reports inform that in 2017 and 2018, the number of pilgrims who visited the shrine during the Navaratras were 3.07 lakh and 3.2 lakh respectively.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2019 01:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).