Srinagar, Mar 05 — The annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir is set to begin from July 3 this year, officials said on Wednesday.
An official informed that this year the yatra will be of 38 days instead of 40 days.
He said that the yatra will conclude on August 9.
The decision about the yatra duration and it’s commencement date was taken during the 48th board meeting of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan here on Thursday.
Pertinently, in 2024, the Amarnath Yatra lasted for 52 days and a record number of 5.12 lakh pilgrims, highest in the past 12 years, visited the cave shrine, nestled in the Himalayas.
The pilgrimage was called off in 2019 a few days before the abrogation of Article 370, while it remained suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, 3.65 lakh, and in 2023, 4.45 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave.
Today’s SASB meeting was attended by the board members, Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, D. C. Raina, Kailash Mehra Sadhu, K. N. Rai, Pitambar Lal Gupta, Dr. Shailesh Raina and Prof Vishwamurti Shastri.
The members proposed various measures and interventions to further improve the facilities and services for the devotees.
Considering the likely increased inflow of pilgrims for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2025, the meeting discussed measures for the enhancement of lodgement capacity at centres in Jammu, Srinagar and other locations, operationalization of Yatri facilitation centres for e-KYC, issuance of RFID cards, on-spot registration of pilgrims at number of locations including Nowgam and Katra Railway Stations.
It was further discussed that these facilities must also be suitably enhanced at Baltal, Pahalgam, Nunwan, Pantha Chowk Srinagar, as per the requirement.
Reviewing the progress achieved on various ongoing works undertaken by the line departments, the Lieutenant Governor stressed on the need for ensuring adequate arrangements and requisite amenities at various locations enroute Yatra. He further called for increasing capacity at Yatri Niwas, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar.
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; widening and maintenance of Yatra Tracks; 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 & Systems, security and surveillance and Digital Pre-paid system for hiring services.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated the Board Members and expressed gratitude for their valuable contribution and continuous guidance in successful conduct of the yatra.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, gave a detailed presentation regarding the arrangements for the Yatra.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Home; Administrative Secretaries; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Deputy Commissioners (Ganderbal and Anantnag); Additional CEO SASB and senior officers of the UT Administration and Shrine Board also attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.
