SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to review preparedness for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra (SANJY)-2026, scheduled to begin on July 3, 2026.
The Chief Secretary directed all departments to ensure time-bound, coordinated arrangements for the safe and smooth conduct of the Yatra, with special focus on pilgrim safety, infrastructure upgrades, and uninterrupted services along both routes—Baltal and Chandanwari—and the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway.
Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and CEO SASB, informed the meeting that 19,402 pilgrims registered on the first day of registration, which began on April 15, 2026 through online and offline modes. The Pratham Puja is scheduled for June 29, 2026.
Key directions were issued to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to complete snow clearance on all Yatra tracks by May 15, 2026, along with road maintenance, installation of crash barriers and signage, slope stabilization, and repair of shelters and bridges.
The Public Works Department (PWD) was instructed to complete road macadamization around base camps and repair helipads at Neelgrath, Baltal, and Pahalgam. The Disaster Management Department was asked to identify disaster-prone zones, ensure debris clearance near the holy cave, and operationalize the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Srinagar by June 10.
Health arrangements were also reviewed, with directions to operationalize 100-bed hospitals at Chandanwari and Baltal by June 20 and ensure deployment of adequate medical staff and critical care ambulances along the routes.
The Chief Secretary stressed strengthened sanitation measures, proper waste disposal systems, uninterrupted power and water supply, telecom connectivity by May 15, and enhanced food and fuel availability for the entire 57-day pilgrimage.
Departments were also instructed to regulate service providers through digital registration and fixed rates, deploy fire and emergency response systems at all camps, and ensure real-time weather updates through IMD-led forecasting systems.
Reiterating inter-departmental coordination, the Chief Secretary said the objective is to ensure a safe, well-managed, and spiritually fulfilling Yatra for pilgrims in 2026.
