Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 6 : Hundred Post Offices located across the country will also register pilgrims for the upcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2012.
This decision was taken by Sachin Pilot, Minister of State, Department of Posts, after receiving a request from the Chairman, Amarnathji Shrine Board, N. N. Vohra, Governor, J&K. Consequently, after discussing the detailed arrangements with the concerned officers, Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board signed an MoU in the matter with Alka Jha, Director, Department of Posts, at New Delhi.
Giving further details, the Chief Executive Officer said that this arrangement will enhance the convenience of the pilgrims who are residing in areas where J&K Bank and YES Bank branches are not available. The Post Offices which will provide registration facilities are located in districts of Akbar Pur, Faizabad, Rosebery, Sultanpur, Bulandshar, Khurja, Mainpuri, Ghazipur, Pratapgarh, Amroha, Bijnor, Rampur, Azamgarh, Barirumpur, Gonga, Banda, Fatehpur, Mirzapur, Lal Ganj, Sila Pur, Dhampur, Hardoi, Khori, Hapur, Gorahkpur in Uttar Pradesh; Betul, Chattapur, Damoh, Mandla, Sagar, Sidhi, Vidisha, Ratlam, Shajapur, Dhar, Bhind, Mandsour, Katni, Dewas, Neemuch, Morena, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh; Dadar, Osmanabad, Sholapur, Latur, Parbhani, Satara, Nanded, Yavatmal, Dhule, Ratnagiri, Chandrapuram, Sangli, Akola, Buldhana, Amravati, Wardha in Maharashtra; Aurangabad, Gaya, Buxar, Siwan, Katihar, Jehanabad, Banka, Gopal Ganj, Darbanga, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Katihar, Chapra, Samastipur, Ara in Bihar; Kheda, Mahesana, Godhra, Patan, Amroli, Junagarh, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Surindranagar, Bharuch, Valsad, Navsari, Gandhinagar, Nadiad, Dohad in Gujarat; Sangrur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Ropar in Punjab; and Sonipat, Bhiwani, Jind, Sirsa, Narnoul in Haryana. The list of bank branches is already available on the website of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. The details of the Post Offices can also be seen on the Board’s website.
As the Post Offices would be handling the registration arrangements for the first time, and some logistical issues are involved, the CEO explained that the Post Offices would commence registering pilgrims from 15th May.
With the addition of 100 Post Offices, the registration facility for Yatra 2012 has nearly doubled to 274, from 149 outlets in 2011. The Yatris can also register on-line on the website of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board from 7th May, 2012 onwards. The Chief Executive Officer re-iterated that the intending pilgrims will need to obtain a health certificate from a registered medical practitioner before seeking a Yatra Permit.
He reminded that it would not be possible to obtain a Yatra Permit without first obtaining a Health Certificate. Even those Yatris who register on-line will need to furnish their health certificates for being permitted to embark on the pilgrimage. This provision has been made compulsory in the interest of the pilgrims.
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