Div Com (J) reviews arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra 2022

Jammu: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer on Thursday reviewed the arrangements for upcoming Shri Amarnath ji Yatra 2022 here at a meeting of concerned Deputy Commissioners and line departments.
The meeting was attended in person by Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai; DIG CRPF, SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; SSP Security, Additional CEO Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Rahul Singh; Directors of ULB, FCS&CA, Chief Engineer JPDCL, Joint Director Information, ADC Jammu, RTO Jammu besides senior officers of JKRTC, BSNL, JMC, PWD and other concerned Departments while Deputy Commissioners of Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Ramban along with concerned officers participated through video conferencing.
The Div Com emphasized upon the need to make adequate arrangements well in advance by working in close coordination for smooth conduct of Yatra.
Directions were passed for sanitation and start of work on face lifting of Yatri Niwas, toilet complex and langer sheds at Bhagwati Nagar.
The provision for transportation of Yatris, emergency/ disaster management, setting up of Langars, setting up of communication centres, medical facilities, deployment of medical team at Yatri Niwas and en-route National Highway, sanitation, temporary toilets, mobile toilet vans in Bhagwati Nagar area, uninterrupted supply of electricity, adequate water supply, traffic arrangements were also discussed in the meeting. Addl CEO, SASB apprised all participants in the meeting that a 3000 bedded yatri niwas has been constructed at Chanderkote by the Shrine Board and it will give major boost to the pilgrims lodgement capacity of the UT Govt along the Yatra route.
Pertinently, due to Covid-19 pandemic the annual Amarnath Yatra 2020 and 2021 was conducted on symbolic basis so this year it is expected that the number of pilgrims may be high as compared to the previous years.
Accordingly, the Div Com directed Deputy Commissioners for increasing accommodation capacities, holding spaces in their respective districts.
The DCs were directed to identify suitable places for langers and accommodation of devotees, vehicles holding in their respective districts. The DCs were also directed to ensure availability of CCTVs, Lighting and genset arrangements at Langer sites.
The Additional CEO Amarnath Ji Shrine Board informed that to ensure the safety of Amarnath Yatris, the board has decided to use Radio frequency Identification (RFID) for tracking movement of vehicles and pilgrims during this year’s pilgrimage to the revered Shrine. The RFID tag cards will be issued to all the pilgrims.
Regarding registration, it was informed that online registration will start through banks in the month of April 2022 with a limit of 20000 registrations fixed per day, while on spot registrations will also be held at designated counters during Yatra days.
The Div Com instructed the DCs to install an adequate number of toilets; water coolers en-route highway for convenience of the pilgrims.
He further instructed all the concerned departments to start the preparedness to ensure that all necessary arrangements are put in place well in advance.