Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired the 48th Board Meeting of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhawan today, finalizing the arrangements for the much-awaited Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025. The annual pilgrimage will commence simultaneously from the Pahalgam route (Anantnag district) and Baltal route (Ganderbal district) on July 3, concluding on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Key Discussions & Proposals:
The Board discussed various measures to enhance facilities and services for the pilgrims, focusing on:
- Lodgement Expansion: Increasing the lodging capacity at centers in Jammu, Srinagar, and other locations to accommodate the growing influx of pilgrims.
- Pilgrim Facilitation: Setting up Yatri facilitation centers for e-KYC, RFID issuance, and on-spot registration at Nowgam and Katra Railway Stations.
- Facility Enhancement: Upgrading facilities at Baltal, Pahalgam, Nunwan, Pantha Chowk Srinagar, and other transit points.
- Security & Surveillance: Implementing a digital pre-paid system for hiring services, ensuring enhanced security measures at the holy cave.
- Infrastructure Development: Improvements in Yatri Niwas, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar; widening of yatra tracks; decongestion of holy cave areas.
- Disaster Preparedness: Strengthening medical care facilities, deploying heli services, and enhancing weather forecasting systems.
Board Members & Officials Present:
The meeting was attended by Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, D C Raina, Kailash Mehra Sadhu, KN Rai, Pitambar Lal Gupta, Dr. Shailesh Raina, and Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri, along with key government officials.
LG Sinha’s Address:
Expressing gratitude towards the Board members, LG Sinha emphasized ensuring smooth arrangements for the pilgrims. He instructed departments to accelerate ongoing projects and ensure timely completion of facilities.
CEO’s Presentation on Yatra Arrangements:
Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, SASB, gave a detailed presentation on the Yatra arrangements, covering insurance provisions, service providers, ponies, online services, and communication strategies.
Prominent Attendees:
The meeting was attended by:
- Atal Dulloo (Chief Secretary)
- Shaleen Kabra (Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department)
- Nalin Prabhat (DGP)
- Chandraker Bharti (Principal Secretary Home)
- Divisional Commissioners of Jammu & Kashmir
- Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal & Anantnag
- Senior Officers from UT Administration & Shrine Board
The high-level discussions aimed to make Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025 a seamless and spiritually enriching experience for thousands of devotees.
