Authorities review arrangements for forthcoming Amarnath Yatra

Authorities on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra at a high-level meeting and set June 10 as the deadline for completion of all works, including the facelift of the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.

The 57-day pilgrimage will commence on July 3 from the twin routes -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district -- and conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti chaired the meeting and reviewed preparations, including the action plan for setting up registration counters in Jammu and RFID centres at Lakhanpur, Bhagwati Nagar and other lodgement centres, officials said.

Officials informed the meeting that token centres for on-the-spot and Tatkal registration would be set up at the Tawi riverfront to ease congestion and traffic issues near the railway station.

The Divisional Commissioner directed that all works be completed by June 10, including whitewashing, setting up stalls for bus ticket booking, langars, cloakroom facilities, and arrangements for accommodation, washrooms, power supply and lighting inside and outside the Bhagwati Nagar camp, they said.