Snow clearance on from Baltal, Chandanwari
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 17: With 57 days long annual yatra to Himalayan cave in South Kashmir district of Anantnag beginning on July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal and Pahalgam-Chandanwari, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and UT administration has started snow clearing and restoration of tracks from both the sides besides keeping other measures in place.
According to official sources, the snow clearance and restoration has already begun from both the tracks and it is going on with full swing. The opening of camps will also start by and by like establishments of base camps at Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal-Sonamarg in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal. Moreover, work is also going on for completion of ongoing projects at Baltal and Nunwan for the facilities of yatris.
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Sources said out of 12 kms track length, snow has been cleared up to five kilometres from Baltal route while out of 32 kilometre long Pahalgam to holy cave track four kilometres has been cleared. Both the tracks will be restored fully by June 15 to June 20, sources added.
They said the widening of tracks from both sides has already been done up to holy cave by November last year. Sources said the tracks have been widened and in case of emergency the vehicle can move up to holy cave. Moreover, for the slip prone and landslide prone areas long term protection measures from both the tracks have been taken up by SASB after making use of latest technology to secure areas and make them free from any catastrophe.
Sources said that the installation of camps near holy cave and other vulnerable areas has been curtailed after the 2022 flash floods and casualties keeping in view the security of pilgrims and service providers.
The UT Departments including Jal Sahakti and Power Development have started restoration of essential supplies at base camps. The water and power supply were closed to base camps and other halting stations up to holy cave by these departments after the onset of winter last year. The tendering process for the providing of sanitation facilities by establishing lavatory blocks along both the tracks has been started by Rural Development Department (RDD). All the necessary facilities for the pilgrims will be in place by third week of June, sources said.
They said the work is going on fast pace on Rs 60 crore Yatra Complex at Sidhra, Jammu. The structure is ready and the other finishing works will be completed by October this year. However the estimated cost on the project may escalate as some additions and alterations have been proposed in the Project, sources added.
In addition to it, the work is on Rs 70 crore Yatri Niwas at Bijebehara in South Kashmir district of Anantnag. The Dormitory and two blocks of Yatri Niwas stand completed in first phase and finishing works are in progress. If needs be it can be utilised for this year’s pilgrimage, sources added.
Sources said besides, five buildings each at Base camp of Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal, Sonamarg constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore will be utilised for the stay of pilgrims from this year’s yatra.
Moreover, five floors of six storied Yatri Niwas at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar were thrown open for use of the pilgrims last year and work on the sixth floor is also going at full pace, while the medical system and langar system will be as usual, sources said.
It may be recalled that on line and offline registration for this year’s Amarnath Ji Yatra started on April 15 on 555 bank branches across the country including 310 branches of PNB, 110 branches of JK Bank, 99 branches of SBI and 37 branches of Yes Bank.
The 55 days long yatra starting on July 3 to holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3888 metres in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir will culminate on August 28 the day coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Sawan Purnima festivals.
Last year, 4.14 lakh pilgrims visited holy cave during 38 days yatra while in 2024 a record number of 5.12 lakh pilgrims had visited cave shrine.
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