Amarnath Yatra Poll in Jammu and Kashmir Do you support mandatory RFID cards for pilgrims? Yes, for security reasons. No, it is an unnecessary requirement.

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has announced that the annual pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir will begin on July 3 and end on August 28, with this year’s pilgrimage scheduled to last for 57 days. The program was finalized in the meeting of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) chaired by Sinha.

Addressing journalists, he said that the yatra would conclude on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. “The pilgrimage will begin on July 3 and end on Rakshabandhan on August 28.

It will last for 57 days. The first puja will be held on Jyeshtha Purnima,” he said.

Registration for the yatra will begin from April 15 and has been made mandatory. Pilgrims in the age group of 13 to 70 years will be eligible for the journey.

Advance registration will be available both online and offline, with facilities set up in over 550 designated bank branches across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Yes Bank. Sinha said there has been a steady increase in participation in the pilgrimage in recent years, pointing to improvements in infrastructure and facilities. To enhance security, RFID cards will be mandatory for all pilgrims, while group accident insurance cover has been doubled from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

He also outlined major infrastructure upgrades. This includes strengthened disaster response systems with widened tracks, improved bridges and deployment of mountain rescue teams and security personnel on both the Baltal and Nunawan routes.

The pilgrimage will proceed on the traditional 48 km long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but faster 14 km long Baltal route in Ganderbal district, as authorities prepare for the presence of a large number of devotees this year.