The anti-ropeway project agitation in Katra has been suspended following an agreement between the government and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti.
The breakthrough came after prolonged protests and negotiations.
As part of the agreement, all 18 detained members of the Sangharsh Samiti, including Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, were released unconditionally from Reasi and Udhampur jails. Their release was a key demand of the protesters, easing tensions in the region.
Sangharsh Samiti spokesperson Karan Singh told THE WEEK that all detained members, including himself, have been released, and the work on the project has been suspended.
He said the government will form a panel to discuss the issue further. “We have suspended the agitation for now and will wait to see what comes out of the talks with the panel,” Singh said. "After that, we will decide our next steps.”
Singh mentioned that the local BJP MLA had apologized for the difficulties faced by the residents due to the project. He also said that all political parties, including the BJP, had supported their demands. The Katra Ropeway Project will remain on hold until further discussions.
The four-member panel includes Ashok Bhan and Suresh Sharma from the Shrine Board along with Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Shrine Board CEO Anshul Garg. Divisional Commissioner Kumar played a crucial role in the negotiations. In response, the Sangharsh Samiti agreed to reopen markets in Katra, bringing relief to traders and the local economy.
The next phase of discussions will involve coordination between the L-G panel and Samiti representatives. Political intervention also contributed to resolving the agitation. Local BJP MLAs from Katra, Reasi, and Jammu districts raised the issue with Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh, prompting the Union government to direct the L-G administration to have a dialogue with the protesters.
Despite protests and market shutdowns, pilgrim flow to the shrine remained unaffected. The Shrine Board's langars provided food and assistance to visitors, mitigating the impact of the agitation. However, daily life in Katra was severely disrupted, with commercial establishments, transportation, and public services paralyzed. Protesters held sit-ins at Shalimar Chowk and Shridhar Chowk.
Health concerns arose as the agitation prolonged, with one youth hospitalized after a hunger strike. Medical teams conducted health check-ups on other demonstrators to prevent further issues.
The controversy extended to the proposed extension of the Delhi-Katra expressway. BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma urged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to reconsider plans bypassing Katra.
He warned of economic losses for local businesses. He said that diverting traffic directly to Tarakote Marg could negatively impact the livelihoods of over one lakh residents.