Balini Bridge Belt declared unsafe: SDM orders immediate shutdown
Katra, Aug 31: In a decisive administrative move aimed at safeguarding pilgrims in the landslide-prone stretches of Katra, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Piyush Dhotra, JKAS, on Saturday invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, ordering the immediate vacation of all commercial establishments including hotels and dharamshalas from Asia Chowk to Balini Bridge and from Balini Bridge to Darshani Deodi.
The order follows days of heavy rainfall that triggered landslides and sinking of roads, particularly near Balini Bridge and Shani Temple at Kadmal. Authorities have expressed concern that continued commercial activity in the vulnerable belt poses a grave threat to public safety given the surge of pilgrims arriving for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra. The establishments will remain vacated until safety certification is secured from the Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B), Katra.
Explaining the urgency, SDM Dhotra said, “The safety and security of pilgrims is paramount. Recent incidents have shown that this stretch has become increasingly unstable. Preventive evacuation is the only way to avert a possible tragedy.” Another senior official from the Shrine Board welcomed the order, remarking, “Temporary inconvenience is justified if it ensures smooth regulation of public order and the lives of thousands of devotees are protected.”
However, the order has evoked strong resentment among local hoteliers and shopkeepers who argue that their livelihoods have been jeopardized without adequate notice. A hotel owner near Balini Bridge said, “We were given no time to vacate. Hundreds of families depend on these establishments for survival. The administration should have considered rehabilitation or alternate arrangements before issuing such harsh directions.” A dharamshala manager echoed the sentiment, stating, “Pilgrims now have fewer options for affordable accommodation. While safety is important, blanket closure creates economic distress and undermines our service to devotees.”
The SDM’s directive has been issued ex parte in view of the urgency, with the order explicitly warning that any violation will invite punitive action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The move has placed the focus squarely on balancing the imperatives of disaster preparedness and public safety with the economic interests of local stakeholders, as pilgrims continue to pour into Katra despite the inclement weather.
