Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) will deploy around 200 buses for the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3, with authorities making elaborate transport arrangements for the 57-day pilgrimage that will conclude on August 27.
Officials said the buses will ferry thousands of pilgrims travelling from Jammu to the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam, while additional reserve vehicles will remain stationed along the national highway and other key transit points to ensure uninterrupted movement during the yatra.
However, pilgrims travelling in JKRTC buses this year are likely to face higher travel costs as the government recently approved an 18 per cent increase in passenger fares across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials, the final fare structure for different categories of buses, including deluxe and semi-deluxe coaches, will be announced nearly a week before the commencement of the pilgrimage. The fare will depend on the type of bus and the route chosen by the pilgrims.
Sources in the transport corporation said out of the total 200 buses being arranged for the yatra, nearly 100 buses will operate daily in convoy formations, transporting pilgrims between Jammu and Srinagar and further towards the Baltal and Pahalgam routes.
The buses will remain an important part of the annual pilgrimage logistics as thousands of devotees from across the country arrive in Jammu before proceeding towards the holy cave shrine situated in the Himalayas of south Kashmir.
Officials said the remaining 100 buses will be strategically stationed at different locations including Ramban, Banihal, Udhampur, Nagrota and other important points along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
These reserve buses are being kept ready to tackle any emergency situation, mechanical breakdown or unexpected disruption during the pilgrimage movement.
“In case any bus carrying pilgrims develops a technical snag on the highway or yatra route, standby buses stationed at different transit points will immediately transport the passengers so that the pilgrimage continues without inconvenience,” officials said.
As part of standard safety and contingency measures, several empty buses will also accompany the yatra convoy during movement to ensure quick evacuation or passenger shifting in case of emergencies.
The annual Amarnath Yatra is one of the biggest religious pilgrimages in the country and requires massive logistical, security and transportation planning every year.
Authorities are expecting a large turnout of pilgrims this year and have already started preparations related to accommodation, transport, security deployment and medical facilities along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified preparations ahead of the pilgrimage, with Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, Joginder Singh, reviewing arrangements at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatra Base Camp on Friday.
During the inspection, the SSP reviewed security deployment, surveillance measures, crowd management plans and emergency response mechanisms put in place for the safe conduct of the Yatra. Senior officers from the CRPF and civil administration also participated in the review meeting.
Officials said the SSP directed all concerned agencies to maintain high alertness and ensure close coordination throughout the pilgrimage period. He stressed the importance of providing hassle-free assistance and adequate facilities to pilgrims arriving at the base camp before proceeding towards the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir.
The meeting also reviewed traffic regulation plans, disaster management preparedness and coordination among police, CRPF, civil administration and emergency response teams.
Authorities said comprehensive arrangements related to accommodation, transportation, security and medical facilities are being put in place along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes as part of the multi-layered preparations for one of the country’s largest religious pilgrimages.
