Kumar Bahukhandi
The 38-day annual pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath cave temple will begin on July 3. It will conclude on August 9 on the day of Raksha Bandhan.
The 38-day annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath situated at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir will begin from July 3. The decision was taken at the 48th board meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. “This year the yatra will commence simultaneously from both the routes-Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district-on July 3 and will conclude on August 9 on the day of Rakshabandhan,” the spokesperson said.
He said the meeting was attended by members of the shrine board who proposed various measures and interventions to further improve facilities and services for the pilgrims. The spokesperson said in view of the increasing number of pilgrims for the Amarnath Yatra, the meeting discussed measures to increase the accommodation capacity at centres in Jammu, Srinagar and other places, operationalisation of Yatri Suvidha Kendras for e-KYC, issuance of RFID cards, on-the-spot registration of pilgrims at several places including Nowgam and Katra railway stations.
Discussion on increasing facilities
He said that it was also discussed that as per the requirement, these facilities should also be suitably enhanced at Baltal, Pahalgam, Nunwan and Pantha Chowk Srinagar. Reviewing the progress of various works being done by the concerned departments, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need to ensure adequate arrangements and requisite facilities at various places along the route of the Yatra.
The routes will be widened
The spokesperson said that he also called for increasing the capacity at the Yatri Niwas located at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar. The meeting also discussed ongoing projects, dissemination of information related to the Yatra, insurance cover to pilgrims, service providers, ponies, expansion of online services by the Shrine Board. He said that work will also be done to widen and maintain the Yatra routes.
Adequate arrangements of services
The spokesperson said that other issues including measures to reduce congestion in the Holy Cave and Lower Holy Cave area, disaster preparedness and mitigation measures, adequate arrangements of services, medical care facilities, weather forecasting infrastructure and security were also discussed in detail in the meeting. The Lt Governor congratulated the members of the Board and expressed gratitude for their valuable contribution and constant guidance in the successful conduct of the Yatra.
