Meanwhile, PTI quoted an official as saying, “This year, the yatra will commence on July 3, simultaneously from both the routes – the Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district, and it will culminate on August 9 on Raksha Bandhan,” an official said, according to PTI.
A little more than 7 years ago, tongue firmly in cheek, I was imitating the ritual of Finance Ministers holding up their briefcases as they enter Assemblies & Parliament to deliver the budget. Never in a million years did I ever imagine I’d be doing this for real. Watch this… pic.twitter.com/ZCMmpOelNh
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 7, 2025
He said at a meeting attended by members of the shrine board, various proposals were and interventions were made to improve facilities and services for devotees. Considering the likely increased inflow of pilgrims for Amarnath Yatra, in the meeting discussions were held on taking measures to enhance lodging capacity at centres in Jammu, Srinagar and other locations. “Operationalisation of Yatri facilitation centres for e-KYC, issuance of RFID cards, on-spot registration of pilgrims at locations including Nowgam and Katra railway stations, were discussed,” PTI quoted an official as saying.
Also read | After Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir looks to boost river cruise tourism; signs pact with Inland Waterways Authority
“Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over the 48th Board meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhavan today. It was announced that the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra for this year will begin on July 3, 2025, simultaneously from both the Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The Yatra will conclude on August 9, 2025, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan,” the official Amarnath Yatra X account read.
At the meeting discussions were held on enhancing facilities for pilgrims travelling from, Pahalgam, Nunwan, and Pantha Chowk Srinagar, as required.
Reviewing the progress achieved on various ongoing works undertaken by the line departments, the LG stressed on the need for ensuring adequate arrangements and requisite amenities at various locations enroute the yatra. He called for increasing capacity at Yatri Niwas, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, the spokesperson said.
Also read | Jammu and Kashmir to develop Bungus Valley as an offbeat tourism hotspot
The meeting also discussed ongoing projects; dissemination of yatra-related information; insurance cover to yatris, service providers, ponies; extension of online services by the shrine board; and widening and maintenance of yatra tracks, he said.
The spokesperson said decongestion measures at holy cave and lower holy cave area, disaster preparedness and mitigation measures, adequate provisioning of Heli services, medical care facilities, weather forecasting infrastructure, and security among others were also deliberated in detail in the meeting.
(With inputs from PTI)
