SRINAGAR: To ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY) 2026, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday, chaired a comprehensive review meeting with senior officers to assess preparedness and finalise arrangements for the pilgrimage to the Holy Cave.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, and Srinagar along with the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation and senior officials from multiple departments, including ULB, FCS&CA, RTC, RTO, Rural Sanitation, SASB, KPDCL, R&B, PHE, I&F, AYUSH, BEACON, Animal Husbandry, Labour, Health, Information, Fire & Emergency Services, IMD, Tourism, SDA, PDA, Forests, Wildlife, SDRF, district SSPs, ITBP, NHIDCL, and NHAI. Representatives from service providers, including G-Max, Jio, Airtel, and BSNL, also participated.
During the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner reviewed departmental proposals under Revenue and Capital Expenditure (Capex) heads. He also assessed the status of works to be executed by BEACON, including snow clearance, repairs, and track widening along the Pahalgam route.
Emphasising timely infrastructure readiness, he directed the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department to expedite macadamization of roads around Yatra base camps, development of parking facilities and pony stands, and ensure restoration of helipads.
With regard to tentages along the Pahalgam and Baltal axes, the Divisional Commissioner stressed the importance of quality, safety, and aesthetics. He instructed that tents must be installed only in secure, non-vulnerable areas.
To strengthen disaster preparedness, he directed the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag to coordinate resource pooling and conduct detailed assessments of flood-prone zones, ensuring safe placement of camps and regulated movement of pilgrims.
The Divisional Commissioner also reviewed the capacity and amenities at base camps, directing departments to maintain adequate fire safety measures, including designated fire gaps between tents and deployment of fire tenders and personnel. He underscored the need for robust sanitation arrangements at camps and along the Yatra routes, tasking the concerned departments with ensuring cleanliness throughout the pilgrimage.
On registration, he instructed that all processes for yatris and service providers be completed well in advance of the Yatra’s commencement.
Further, he reviewed healthcare facilities along both routes and called for increased deployment of ambulances. Directions were also issued regarding accommodation for security personnel, provision of RTC buses for pilgrim transportation, installation of public address systems and signage, dissemination of timely weather updates, and strengthening of disaster management mechanisms.
Telecom service providers were instructed to ensure seamless network coverage across all routes and camps, enabling effective communication and facilitating RFID-based tracking systems.
