DC Ganderbal reviews Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 arrangements at Baltal, issues directions for seamless coordination

GANDERBAL: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, today chaired a meeting at JPCR Baltal to review departmental preparedness and ensure coordinated arrangements for the smooth, safe and hassle-free conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 along the Baltal axis.

Reviewing the preparedness of each department, the DC stressed the importance of close inter-departmental coordination to ensure uninterrupted services and prompt response to any eventuality during the Yatra.

Reviewing arrangements related to essential commodities, the DC instructed the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department to ensure adequate availability of ration and other essential supplies throughout the Yatra period without any interruption.

The Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) was directed to ensure proper transport management, including smooth movement of vehicles, parking arrangements and regulation of traffic to facilitate hassle-free movement of pilgrims and service providers.

The DC also reviewed telecommunication arrangements and directed BSNL, Airtel and Jio to deploy dedicated technical teams along the Baltal axis throughout the Yatra. He instructed the telecom service providers to share list of designated nodal officers and contact numbers with the District Administration to enable immediate coordination in case of any communication-related issues.

Emphasising the importance of timely execution of responsibilities, the DC directed all concerned departments to remain in close coordination, ensure round-the-clock readiness and address any emerging issue promptly to facilitate a safe, smooth and well-managed Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026.

The meeting was attended by officers from Civil Administration, Police, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), Beacon, Health, Jal Shakti, PWD, Irrigation & Flood Control, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Fire & Emergency Services, Forest, Sonamarg Development Authority, Rural Development, Animal Husbandry, Information Department, Transport, Traffic Police, BSNL, Airtel, Jio and other concerned departments.

Later, the DC visited the On-Spot Registration Centre and RFID Card Distribution Counters at Baltal to inspect the arrangements put in place for registration and issuance of RFID cards to pilgrims. He reviewed the functioning of the counters and directed the concerned officers to ensure smooth crowd management, adequate manpower, proper queue regulation and hassle-free registration so that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience. He also emphasized that RFID cards should be issued in a systematic and time-bound manner.

The DC also inspected the Pony Stand at Baltal and reviewed the arrangements made for pony service providers and pilgrims. He instructed the concerned departments to ensure orderly management of the stand and strict adherence to safety protocols. He further directed that all stakeholders associated with pony operations must possess valid RFID cards and other requisite permissions before being allowed to operate during the Yatra.

The DC also visited Domail to assess the preparedness of various departments on the ground. During the inspection, he reviewed the availability of essential services, including medical facilities, emergency response arrangements, power and water supply, sanitation and communication facilities.

He issued on-the-spot directions to the concerned officers to maintain round-the-clock readiness, ensure swift response to any exigency and work in close coordination to provide pilgrims with a safe, seamless and comfortable Yatra experience. He stressed that all arrangements should remain fully functional throughout the Yatra period and that any shortcomings noticed during inspections must be addressed without delay.