All arrangements in place for a safe, seamless pilgrimage’
FIRDOUS AHMAD
SRINAGAR, June 26: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has called upon devotees from across the country to participate in large numbers in the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, which begins on July 3.
Addressing a press conference at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said that the Union Territory administration has made all necessary arrangements to ensure a safe, smooth and spiritually uplifting pilgrimage for every yatri.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to the safety of pilgrims, LG Sinha said a strong and multi-layered security grid has been put in place. The Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Jammu and Kashmir Police have taken every measure to provide a secure environment, with enhanced deployment and a detailed review of vulnerable locations. He assured that the pilgrims will undertake the yatra under a well-coordinated and professionally managed security framework.
The Lieutenant Governor also informed that all required logistical and infrastructural arrangements have been completed. The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) has created an atmosphere of spiritual sanctity and comfort across the base camps and along the yatra tracks. He said that the administration has worked tirelessly over the past two years to upgrade pilgrim-centric facilities in a holistic manner.
He said the yatra tracks, which were previously narrow and steep, have been widened significantly—particularly at difficult stretches such as Kalimata—making the paths more accessible. Strong safety handrails have been installed along the entire Baltal route and critical segments of the Pahalgam route, significantly enhancing the safety of devotees. Grid power connectivity has been extended along the Baltal route up to the holy cave and from the cave to Panjtarni, while work is underway to electrify the remaining stretches of the Pahalgam track.
Accommodation facilities too have been upgraded, with enhanced capacity at Yatri Niwas complexes in Baltal, Nunwan, and Pantha Chowk. The digital pre-paid system has been introduced to streamline the hiring of services like ponies, pithus, and palkis, ensuring transparency and ease for the pilgrims.
In a significant improvement at the holy cave, the traditional wooden darshan platform has been replaced with a stainless-steel platform, now capable of facilitating darshans in four parallel rows. The structure also features wooden flooring and a protective canopy over the stairs, shielding pilgrims from the sun, rain, or snow. Healthcare facilities have also been strengthened this year, with expanded clinical bed capacity at Panjtarni and upper camps, and fully functional 100-bedded hospitals on both yatra routes.
To enhance monitoring and response, Integrated Command and Control Centres have been established, and the deployment of security personnel has been scaled up. The Lieutenant Governor said that the administration has placed special focus on maintaining cleanliness, ensuring sustainable practices, and providing convenience to both pilgrims and service providers. Additional facilities like prasad counters at the holy cave, cloakrooms, foot over bridges at base camps, and e-rickshaw services have also been arranged.
LG Sinha also acknowledged the pivotal role of media personnel and the cooperation of local residents in ensuring the yatra’s success year after year. He urged the pilgrims to follow the guidelines issued by the administration and undertake the journey in designated convoys to ensure their own safety and the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
With final preparations complete and a spirit of devotion pervading the air, the administration is fully geared to welcome thousands of yatris to this sacred journey in the Himalayas.
