Amarnath Yatra preparations reviewed, number of unregistered pilgrims shows increase

Anshul Garg, Commissioner of the Kashmir Region, paid an inspection visit to the Nunwan Base Camp on Friday to review the preparations along the Pahalgam route for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage. During this visit, Garg issued necessary instructions to officials to ensure seamless movement and better services for the pilgrims, and was accompanied by Anantnag Deputy Commissioner Dr. Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pahalgam Development Authority, and other senior officials. Together, the team visited the checking point, Nunwan Base Camp, and the Hikers Park and Club areas to conduct on-site assessments of the readiness status of the concerned departments prior to the departure of the first batch of pilgrims from the Pahalgam route.

During the inspections, Commissioner Garg visited the security point as well as the eKYC verification and RFID registration counters one by one, reviewing the general facilitation mechanism for pilgrims in detail and obtaining information from the officers on duty regarding the process. Continuing his field inspections, Garg had the opportunity to speak directly with pilgrims present in the area to gauge the quality of facilities and services being offered and their satisfaction, listening to their feedback. These interactions were characterized as a critical step aimed at enabling administrators to identify shortcomings in the field more quickly and resolve the difficulties faced by pilgrims immediately.

Speaking during the visit, Commissioner Garg called for all authorized units to work in close coordination and requested that basic facilities be provided uninterrupted throughout the pilgrimage period, prioritizing the safety, ease, and comfort of the pilgrims. Noting specifically the density that could be created in case of a large influx of unregistered pilgrims to the region, Garg invited the relevant departments to work towards accelerating the on-site registration process. Stating that measures to minimize pilgrims' waiting times should be implemented urgently, Garg emphasized the need for simplification of procedures.

Continuing his inspections, Garg moved to the Hikers Park area where he examined the token-based RFID registration facility, observed the system's functioning on site, and appreciated the efforts of the teams stationed there. Subsequently moving to the Club area to inspect the on-site RFID registration and eKYC update process, the Commissioner expressed his satisfaction with the efforts of the teams on duty. Praising the intensive efforts of the RFID registration teams, Garg asked them to ensure the completion of daily registration quotas on time within the stipulated periods and to prevent congestion in the system.

Stating that a significant increase in the number of pilgrims is expected in the coming days, Commissioner Garg called on all departments to be ready at full operational capacity and requested rapid responses to demands. It was emphasized in the statement that it is essential for all teams to act in full coordination to provide a safe and hassle-free Yatra experience for devotees. Garg added that all necessary measures have been taken and will be kept under constant surveillance to prevent any disruption, particularly regarding logistics and security.