Raja Syed Rather
Baltal, Jul 4: Describing the Amarnath Yatra as a symbol of unity and brotherhood, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that till now 20,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine, nestled in Himalayas, and their number is swelling.
After inaugurating the Yatri Niwas at Baltal base camp that will accommodate 800 yatris, Lieutenant Governor while talking to reporters said, “More than 20,000 devotees have had darshan of Baba Amarnath so far. They are coming from different parts of the country. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are welcoming them with an open heart. The UT administration, the Government of India, and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board have expanded services to ensure a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey for all.”
He said, “Pilgrims arriving earlier than stipulated date will be accommodated, however advised them to wait since those devotees who had prior registration would be given priority.”
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized the coordinated efforts of the administration, security forces, Shrine Board, and local residents. “This yatra is a reflection of the collective will and spirit of service. While the administration and security forces manage the logistics and safety, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially locals play a vital role by supporting the pilgrims selflessly,” Sinha said.
Earlier the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated a newly constructed Yatri Niwas Complex at Baltal. The facility, built under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of ONGC, will provide safe and comfortable accommodation to 800 pilgrims, alongside a dedicated registration and security block.
The Lieutenant Governor underlined that providing safe and adequate accommodation to all pilgrims is a top priority for the administration. He praised ONGC for contributing to the yatra through its CSR efforts, which, he said, complement the government’s initiatives to improve facilities and infrastructure for devotees.
The inauguration at Baltal follows a series of similar developments in recent years aimed at enhancing facilities for pilgrims.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed his heartfelt gratitude to PM Modi and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, for their kind support to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.
He also thanked the ONGC for taking up the work for establishing Yatri Niwas at Sidhra Jammu, Baltal, Nunwan and Bijbehara at a cost of Rs 240 crore under Corporate Social Responsibility.
“Safe and adequate accommodation to all the devotees is our top priority. We are creating better facilities for the pilgrims, while securing the livelihood of local people and service providers. At present, the work of Yatri Niwas at Sidhra, Nunwan Phase-I and Bijbehara is going on. Yatri Niwas at Nunwan is expected to be completed before the month of October this year,” LG Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Govenor Sinha also highlighted several key developments that have transformed the yatra experience in recent years. “Today, 12-foot-wide roads have been built up to the cave shrine. Railing systems have been installed at vulnerable stretches to ensure safety. Mobile connectivity has significantly improved, and arrangements have been made to accommodate yatris from various states. A 24×7 monitoring mechanism is in place to respond quickly to any situation,” he said, adding, “Today the tracks are illuminated by grid power and this has provided great relief to the pilgrims and also provided an opportunity for 24×7 monitoring. Grid Power Connectivity from Panchtarni to Chandanwari will be ensured by next year.”
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir has achieved several developmental landmarks in recent years, adding that the peaceful and seamless conduct of the Amarnath Yatra is yet another example of the UT’s growing capabilities and collective resolve.
During his visit to Baltal Base camp, the Lieutenant Governor also interacted with the service providers and devotees of Baba Barfani and extended his best wishes to all the pilgrims for a safe pilgrimage.
He also lauded the contribution of Police, Security forces, Administration, Shrine Board, executing agencies, engineers, laborers, sanitation workers, civil society groups, langar seva organizations, local people and all other stakeholders for the smooth conduct of Yatra.
Nuzhat Ishfaq, DDC Chairperson, Ganderbal; Mian Mehar Ali, Member of Legislative Assembly from Kangan; KN Rai, Member, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary and CEO SASB; Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman and CEO ONGC; Vartika Shukla, Chairman and Managing Director Engineers India Limited; Vijay Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Jatin Kishore, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, senior officials of Police, Administration, SASB, and devotees in large numbers were present at the inaugural ceremony.
