Jammu: 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.
He also asked departments to ensure proper drinking water supply, sanitation and langar facilities at the token centre venue.
Officials said tenders had been floated for repair and renovation works at Bhagwati Nagar, the base camp from where Yatra convoys leave under security escort for Pahalgam and Baltal.
Directions were also issued for setting up a convenience store by the Cooperative Department, provision of prepaid SIM cards and installation of German hangars for pilgrims at the camp, they added.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the Fire and Emergency Services Department to conduct a thorough fire safety audit, while the Public Works Department was asked to undertake blacktopping of roads inside and around the camp.
The Power Development Department was instructed to ensure proper illumination and backup generator sets for an uninterrupted power supply, they said.
He also reviewed arrangements at the lodgement centres in Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Ramban districts. Deputy commissioners were asked to ensure civic amenities such as power, water, langars and CCTV cameras at the centres.
The IGP Jammu reviewed the deployment plan for security forces and stressed proper lighting at each lodging centre and adherence to Yatra cut-off timings.
All departments were also asked to appoint nodal officers to remain available in the control room to be set up at Bhagwati Nagar for smooth coordination during the Yatra, officials added.
