At a high level meeting, chaired by Governor, N.N. Vohra, held today at Raj Bhavan, it was decided that the Pahalgam-Chandanwari route shall be opened for the Amarnathji Yatra from Wednesday the 2nd July 2014, an official spokesman said. According to a statement issued to GNS, the meeting was attended by Shri K. Rajendra, DGP; Shri R.K. Gupta, CEO, Shrine Board; Shri Shailendra Kumar, pisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shri A. G. Mir, IGP, Kashmir; and Shri Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO, Shrine Board.The Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, was briefed by the CEO about each of the Yatra related arrangements along the Pahalgam route, track condition from Sheshnag to Panjtarni, and status of snow clearance at the site of the Sheshnag Camp. In view of the snow melt levels in the past four days, it was decided to open the Pahalgam route for the pilgrims from 2nd July 2014.
For the convenience of pilgrims, it was decided that all Yatris who have already obtained registration to travel on the Pahalgam route till 5th of July, 2014, shall, if they so wish, have the option of travelling via the Baltal route on the date for which they possess valid registration. Thereafter, from 6th July 2014 onwards, the Yatris will be allowed to embark on their pilgrimages only as per the specific date and route for which they possess valid Yatra Permits.The Governor asked the CEO and pisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to personally monitor and ensure that all required arrangements are in place for the Yatra to commence from the Pahalgam route from 2nd July 2014 morning.
The CEO was asked to forthwith commence the facility of On-spot Registration of pilgrims who wish to travel by the Pahalgam route. Such registration will be open for the plilgrims to embark on their yatra via the Pahalgam route only with effect from 6th July 2014 morning. This registration would be done at the Registration Counters which have already been set-up by the Shrine Board at Jammu and Srinagar. It may be recalled that the facility for On-spot Registration via the Baltal route has already been opened with effect from 28th June, 2014.
The Shrine Board has provided the facility of On-spot Registration through Registration Counters in Jammu at Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Jammu-Haat and Gita Bhawan and in Srinagar at TRC Nowgam. At Gita Bhawan, Jammu, only Sadhus are being registered. Till date, 2141 pilgrims and Sadhus have registered themselves at these counters to travel to Holy Cave via the Baltal route. (GNS)