It will be mandatory to install Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips on the vehicles for the safety of the pilgrims coming on the Amarnath Yatra. Also, the cut off time will be issued for the passing of vehicles. After this time, no passenger will be allowed to come towards the Valley and go towards Jammu. On Friday, the decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Arvind Kumar. It is to be known that this year the Yatra will start on June 30 and will last for 43 days.
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According to sources, the preparations and security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra were reviewed in the meeting. This year emphasis was laid on making foolproof security covers to ensure smooth and incident-free pilgrimage. The security officials were instructed to watch the suspects closely and intensify the anti-militancy operation ahead of the pilgrimage. A multi-layered security grid has also been created for incident-free travel.
As part of the security plan, the pilgrims will travel in vehicles with RF-ID chips, which will enable the police to track their movement easily. The cutoff timings for vehicles carrying passengers will be released soon to remain on the radar of security agencies. Officials of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Administration, Police, Army, CRPF, BSF and other security agencies were present.
Amid preparations for the Amarnath Yatra of 2022, additional companies of security forces have started reaching Kashmir. These will be deployed for the smooth conduct of the Yatra this year. Officials said that at least four companies of additional security forces are reaching Kashmir every day.
The jawans will be deployed along highways, at base camps, at sensitive places, and on the routes leading to the holy cave – Pahalgam and Baltal Sonmarg. Additional companies reaching the Valley include companies of CRPF, ITBP, BSF and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). He said this process would continue until May, and deployment would be done accordingly.
The Jammu and Kashmir government is looking forward to a historic yatra this year in which a record number of travellers are expected to visit the Himling of Lord Shiva. The government expects six to eight lakh passengers this year. Hoteliers have started making a plan to accommodate the pilgrims. It is worth noting that March this year recorded the highest number of tourists at 1.80 lakh, a record in the last ten years. Seeing this, it seems that travellers will also reach here in large numbers, due to which the people associated with the tourism sector have high hopes.
Amish Mahajan
