Amarnath Yatri Niwas in Ramban almost ready, to be inaugurated soon
THE PERMANENT SHELTER AIMS TO PROVIDE A SPACIOUS AND WELL-SECURED PLACE TO PILGRIMS
The much-awaited Amarnath Yatri Niwas at Chanderkote in Ramban district is almost ready and will be inaugurated by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha before Baisakhi or during Navratri, officials said.
The executing agency, CPWD, is putting final touches to the project and it will be ready by March 25. “Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha is going to inaugurate the Rs 32.16 crore project any time before Baisakhi or in the ensuing Navratras”, said officials.
“The idea behind the permanent shelters is to provide a spacious and well-secured place to pilgrims to ensure their comfortable stay and at the same time, keep them secure. The Yatri Niwas is well secured 24x7 by the CRPF and army,” he added.
In March last year , the LG’s administration had identified the site in Chanderkote to come up with a permanent structure for Amarnath pilgrims. Ramban, it may be stated, falls on Kashmir highway enroute Srinagar.
“The Yatri Niwas has 17 blocks and, in each block, we can accommodate 216 pilgrims in six dormitories. It has been constructed on the analogy of Yatri Niwas in Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar,” said the official.
The Yatri Niwas has 500 commodes and 250 wash points. The project will also help in facilitating people travelling on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway in case of traffic breakdowns.
After two years of suspension due to Covid pandemic, this year the administration has started preparing for a fullfledged pilgrimage to the cave shrine at an altitude of 13,000 feet in south Kashmir Himalayas. “This year, the authorities are likely to allow the pilgrimage for 56 days,” said a senior official.