SRINAGAR, Feb 10, 2025 — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that the recently discussed ropeway project for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine was never approved by the current Council of Ministers.
Addressing the House, the Chief Minister stated that after a thorough review of official records, it was confirmed that neither the Cabinet nor the Administrative Council played a role in the project’s authorization.
Abdullah revealed that the approval was actually granted by the Lieutenant Governor in September 2024, prior to the formation of the elected government, debunking claims that the decision rested with the current administration.
The Chief Minister’s statement serves as a direct rebuttal to assertions made by MLA Baldev Raj Sharma, representing the Mata Vaishno Devi segment. On Monday, Sharma had emotionally claimed that the Cabinet had sanctioned the project, even going as far as threatening to resign if his statement was proven false.
CM Omar Abdullah noted that both the House and the public were being misled by such misinformation, emphasizing the importance of factual accuracy regarding governance and major infrastructure decisions in the region.
