The main base camp for Amarnath pilgrims in the capital Jammu is being given a makeover and the authorities have set June 20 as the deadline for completion of the work. The 52-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir will begin on June 29 and conclude on August 19, they said. The Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar serves as the main base camp here for pilgrims from across the country before they leave for Kashmir to pay obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Jammu Additional Director General of Police Anand Jain on Friday visited the base camp to review the preparations.
While reviewing the preparations at a high-level official meeting, Kumar was apprised of the status of the ongoing works, which include renovation of the entry gate, renovation of roads, levelling of parking ground, whitewashing, renovation of toilets, repair work of ACs. He said installation of fans, lights, flood lights and other works are being carried out by various departments inside the Yatri Niwas to provide the best facilities to the pilgrims. Work is underway at the base camps and 200 hundred workers are engaged in the work of giving a facelift to the camp, including repair and renovation.
The divisional commissioner asked the officials to complete the renovation, upgradation work by June 20. He also discussed the security arrangements and directed to ensure all necessary preparations within the stipulated time frame. More than one lakh pilgrims have been registered for the visit to the temple of Mata Vaishnodevi located in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
