Admin gears up for Shri Amarnath Yatra; 2 spots identified for ‘langar’

Though the final date for this year’s annual Shri Amarnath pilgrimage is yet to be announced officially, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has tightened its belt and has started making all arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims from across the country.

The Amarnath Yatra for two consecutive years remained suspended in the year 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

“Preliminary preparations for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Yatra are set into motion,” an official said.

He added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have been directed to expedite the work on Chandrakote bypass road to facilitate the parking of vehicles of pilgrims,” he said adding that two spots between Nashri and Banihal are also identified for ‘langar’ vis-à-vis the places have also been identified for the stay of the pilgrims.

Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mussrat Islam also visited the Chanderkote and reviewed the pace of work of upcoming Yatri Niwas with a capacity of more than 3200 pilgrims being constructed by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

Meanwhile foundation of another Yatri Niwas with a capacity of about 2800 passengers was also laid in the month of August last year in Srinagar by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

“During this year’s Amarnath Yatra, special focus is laid on electricity, water and road connectivity,” he said adding that adequate medical arrangements shall be made and special attention is given to the time to time guidelines issued by the government for the prevention of coronavirus pandemic.

“Mobile toilets, Community Sanitary Complexes are also coming up along the highway for the pilgrims,” said an official adding that besides laying thrust on infrastructure, road connectivity and basic facilities are being given special attention to avoid any inconvenience to the pilgrims.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in November last year laid the foundation stone for the Tirth Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management Centre of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

Congratulating the devotees of Shri Amarnath, officials of the Shrine Board and the people of Jammu region for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Yatri Niwas, Lieutenant Governor had said, “we have fulfilled a long pending demand of all stakeholders, organizations associated with Shri Amarnath Yatra, devotees from across the country and abroad.”

“Work with greater commitment and dedication to provide safe and best-in-class facilities keeping in mind the faith of the devotees and the timeless tradition of Shri Amarnath Yatra”, the Lt Governor said.

“We are also exploring the feasibility of a ropeway at Shri Amarnath Shrine,” he said.

To facilitate the smooth pilgrimage especially in harsh weather conditions, a multistory Yatri Niwas (Pilgrims Shelter) is coming up at Chanderkote in Ramban district of the Union Territory.

The shelter will accommodate nearly 4500 pilgrims once completed.

“During the Amarnath Yatra, the pilgrims had to face hardships especially when it rains or due to triggering of landslides that leads to closure of Jammu-Srinagar national highway,” an official said.

The complex is being constructed on the pattern of the Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar based Yatri Niwas—the base camp of Shri Amarnath Yatra.

“Due to rains or landslides, the travelers will no longer have to spend the night on the road as before and the facility will soon be ready,” he said and revealed that 4500 people can be accommodated in emergency like situations at the complex.

“The Yatri Niwas is coming up on 23.3 kanals of land with a cost of Rs.32.16 crore and will have a multi-storey dormitory,” the official said.

The official further added that the disaster centers will be well equipped with facilities like blankets, heating, gas, medical facilities, food, first aid centre, high mast light and parking.

However, sources in the administration said that the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is also likely to give nod to construction of concrete (cemented) tracks on twin routes to the Cave Shrine.

“Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is planning to facelift the twin tracks to the Cave Shrine on the lines of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi with maximum facilities for the devotees,” sources said.

“The Amarnath Yatra mostly takes place in the months between June to August, which is a monsoon period in Jammu and Kashmir and the tracks at the time of pilgrimage are slippery and accidents prone,” they said.