New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, during which she will attend the convocation of Kashmir University and visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, PTI reported.
During her visit, Murmu will also inaugurate a remodeled Parvati Bhavan and skywalk at the revered shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district, a spokesperson of the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
The much-needed skywalk will help overcome the problem of the multidirectional flow of pilgrims and a chaotic condition between Manokamna Bhawan and Gate No-3, the scene of the stampede on New Year's Day in 2022 in which 12 people lost their lives and 16 were injured.
Her itinerary begins with gracing the 20th convocation of the University of Kashmir at Srinagar immediately after her arrival in the city, the spokesperson said.
On the same day, she will interact with members of local tribal groups and women of self-help groups at Raj Bhavan besides attending a civic reception to be hosted in her honour there.
On October 12, the president will visit the Vaishno Devi shrine where she will inaugurate the remodeled Parvati Bhavan.
According to officials, the pilgrims coming from Sanji Chat route in helicopters or through ponies and those from Himkoti route in battery-operated vehicles and 'palkies' will be able to use the skywalk to reach Bhawan area.
The skywalk was planned to help decongestion and better crowd management at Bhawan during peak periods, the officials said, adding wooden flooring was used on the deck for comfortable movement of barefoot yatris.
Both Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh chaired separate meetings in Srinagar to review the security arrangements ahead of the visit of Murmu.