SMVDSB to track movement of pilgrims through RFID, 500 CCTVs
With scars of New Year tragedy at holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi that 12 lives still fresh in mind, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is in no mood to take risk this time as it has decided to keep all time surveillance on the movement of yatris through 500 CCTV cameras.
The Board has also decided that security agencies would not allow any pilgrims without a valid Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) card on the onset of New Year, besides there would be separate entry and exit routes at Bhawan that witnessed first-ever stampede during the intervening night of Deember 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022.
These decisions were taken during a review meeting of the Board chaired by Suresh Kumar Sharma (retd. Judge), Member SMVDSB with Cadre of the Board and security agencies.
The meeting was called to review Risk Management Strategies and to determine the broad approach regarding preparedness for safe pilgrimage prior to onset of New Year-2023 on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of SMVDSB.
At the outset, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shrine Board, Anshul Garg briefed about various measures in place and proactive steps taken for smooth regulation of expected influx of pilgrims likely to visit in large number from various parts of the country and abroad to abode of Mata Vaishno Devi on the onset of New Year which includes issuance of RFID cards, effective crowd management, working out plans for decongestion of the entire track, particularly the Bhawan area, separation of entry, exit routes at Bhawan and all time surveillance through dedicated CCTV dedicated network of over 500 cameras.
The CEO said that the RFID based yatra registration cards have been started with the focus to enhance not only the security but also ensure real time tracking of pilgrims on the track enroute Bhawan for better regulation of the pilgrims in accordance with the holding capacity of the trek and the shrine area (Bhawan).
Garg further emphasized the security agencies not to allow any pilgrims without a valid RFID card for which additional hand held scanners may be put to use with sufficient staff to plug any shortfall.
The CEO said that yatris are being regularly informed through announcement to register under RFID based Registration Card through Shrine Board Registration Counters only before start of their pilgrimage and if any pilgrim found without RFID cards, he will not be allowed for the pilgrimage.
He also underscored that those pilgrims registered under RFID not returning their card after completion of Yatra would be charged a fine of Rs.100 as deterrence.
Suresh Kumar Sharma, while reviewing the various mitigation measures in place emphasized coordinated efforts amongst all stakeholders for working on strategies for risk aversion and identifies the congestion and crowd holding spots for better crowd management before the onset of New Year.
In the meeting, P. S. Ranpise, IG, CRPF highlighted major challenges for the deployed security forces in coming days for managing the expected influx of pilgrims on New Year. He briefed that additional forces as per request would be deployed in and around Katra and on the track enroute Bhawan in coordination with other security agencies to ensure fool-proof security and effective Yatra management.
Others present in the meeting were Manoj Kumar, DIG, CRPF, Navneet Singh, Addl. Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Amit Basin, SP Katra, Chander Parkash, Joint Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Yad Ram Bunker, Commandant CRPF and Vipan Bhagat, Asstt. Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, besides, other concerned officers.
