For better management of pilgrims and pony vendors at the Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine situated in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir State, a system based on smart-card and biometrics would soon be put in place. In this connection Municipal Committee Katra (MCK) has floated Request for Proposal (RFP) for Visitor-Pony management system for pilgrims at Vaishnodevi shrine to have a stricter control over vendors, for the benefit of devotees. The system will be put in place for 18-km Katra-Bhawan-Bharov stretch of route to cave shrine. The RFP has been invited from companies which have national presence for regulation of ponies, potters, delivery schedules, technical and commercial terms. The Municipal Committee Katra (MCK) has over 25,000 pony vendors who ferry roughly 35 lakh pilgrims, out of over one crore pilgrims visiting the cave shrine annually. Currently, the committee manages the visitor and the vendors (ponywalas) manually, in which the vendors get paid according to the distance they travel. Meanwhile, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB) will set up a new helipad for ferrying pilgrims to the famous cave shrine. According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board Navin Kumar Choudhary a new helipad is being built by the Board to cater to the needs of increasing number of pilgrims flying every day to the cave shrine.