Arvind Sharma
Jammu Tawi, Jun 26: To ensure that the yatris undertaking the holy Amarnath Pilgrimage this year are not overcharged heavily, the government, for the first time, has issued the rate list for various vehicles ferrying the pilgrims.
The rate list issued by the Government of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has been prepared in such a way so that it covers all the routes of the different tourist destinations of J&K and also the pilgrims travelling from Jammu to Kashmir and back from Kashmir to Jammu.
The rates have been notified for all kinds of vehicles including Deluxe buses (2×2) 27 seater, semi deluxe buses (2X2) semi Deluxe Txixe, Super Deluxe (2X2) AC Coach, carriage buses, Taxis and Cabs.
As per the rate list issued by the government and accessed by the Northlines, Rs 74 will be charged from the pilgrims travelling from Jammu to Katra in Semi Deluxe coach, Rs 103 will be charged from the pilgrims travelling from Jammu to Katra in Deluxe coach.
Similarly, Rs 123 will be charged from the pilgrims travelling from Jammu Bus Stand to Katra in Super Deluxe coach bus, and Rs 468 will be charged from the
Pilgrims travelling from Jammu to Srinagar in semi Deluxe coach. Rs 793 will be charged from the pilgrims traveling from Jammu to Srinagar in Super Deluxe coach.
As per the rate list, Rs 603 will be charged from the pilgrims travelling from Jammu to Kishtwar in Super Deluxe Coach, and Rs 710 will be charged from the pilgrims travelling from Jammu to Poonch.
As per the rate list, Rs 155 will be charged from the pilgrims travelling from Jammu Railway Station to Katra in Super Deluxe coach.
For Taxis/carriage buses cabs, Rs 175 has been fixed from Srinagar to Baltal for buses, Rs 386 has been fixed for taxis and cabs for the passengers travelling from Srinagar to Baltal.
This is for the first time that the government has issued rate list for the fare of Amarnath pilgrims intending to visit various tourist destinations of J&K apart from visiting Amarnath Shrine.
For the first time in the history of Shri Amarnath Yatra, the offline i.e on the spot registration of the pilgrims undertaking this holy pilgrimage from across the country will be done at one place at Tawi River Front and not at any other place as it earlier used to be.
Earlier, the offline/on the spot registrations for the Amarnath pilgrims were done at various places like Vaishnavi Dham, Sarswati Dham, Mahajan Hall and Geeta Bhawan.
“The decision for the offline/on the spot registrations for the Amarnath pilgrims at one place i.e at Tawi River at Jammu has been taken by the government keeping in view the security of the Amarnath pilgrims,” sources said.
LoC, IB on High Alert Ahead of Yatra
Jammu/Srinagar, Jun 26: Security forces have intensified surveillance and operational deployment along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, while Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Friday directed all security agencies to remain alert and maintain seamless coordination to ensure the peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage.
The 57-day pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine is scheduled to commence on July 3 under a multi-layered security arrangement.
Officials said security forces have been placed on high alert in vulnerable sectors, including Gurez, Keran, Tangdar and Uri in north Kashmir, besides the Poonch-Rajouri belt, Kathua and other areas along the International Border in the Jammu region.
Troops have stepped up long-range patrols, surveillance and area domination exercises in forward areas to monitor infiltration routes and maintain a strong security presence. Additional deployments have also been made at strategic locations along the Yatra routes.
In the Jammu region, joint operations involving the police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been launched in border villages and other sensitive areas. Security personnel have intensified vehicle checking, frisking, verification of suspicious persons and surveillance at crowded places.
Search operations have also been conducted at selected locations along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the main route for the annual pilgrimage, to sanitise vulnerable stretches and strengthen the security grid.
Officials said the exercises are aimed at enhancing operational preparedness, strengthening coordination among various security agencies and gathering ground-level intelligence ahead of the Yatra. Security personnel have also interacted with residents of border villages, urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement.
Meanwhile, chairing a comprehensive security review meeting of the Jammu Zone at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar, DGP Nalin Prabhat reviewed the security and logistical preparedness for the forthcoming pilgrimage.
“Maintaining the safety, security and confidence of the devotees remains the foremost priority of all agencies,” the DGP said, calling upon officers to remain alert, committed and professionally prepared to meet any eventuality.
He stressed the need for seamless coordination among the Army, CAPFs, intelligence agencies, the civil administration and the J&K Police to maintain a robust security grid throughout the pilgrimage.
Reviewing the deployment in detail, the DGP directed officers to ensure comprehensive area domination, intensified anti-sabotage checks, effective access control at vulnerable locations and enhanced surveillance through optimum use of available technology.
He also emphasised high-visibility policing, stronger quick response capabilities and uninterrupted communication among all security formations deployed along the Yatra routes.
The DGP further reviewed traffic management and convoy regulation, directing officers to ensure smooth vehicular movement while minimising inconvenience to pilgrims and the general public. He stressed strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), effective supervision and real-time monitoring, besides close coordination with the civil administration, health services, disaster response agencies and other stakeholders.
Officials said all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the safe, secure and incident-free conduct of this year’s Amarnath Yatra.
