Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated key infrastructure projects in Ganderbal district aimed at enhancing facilities for pilgrims ahead of the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra.
The Lieutenant Governor dedicated the District Emergency Operations Centre and the Shri Amarnathji Yatra Control Room at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Ganderbal. The facilities have been established to ensure real-time monitoring, improved coordination and prompt response during the pilgrimage.
Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore briefed the Lieutenant Governor about the functioning of the new facilities. The Emergency Operations Centre integrates CCTV feeds from various locations across the district, including Baltal base camp, parking areas, approach roads, Sonmarg and the Manigam transit camp, enabling centralized monitoring of yatra-related activities. The centre is also supported by a 24×7 emergency helpline to provide immediate assistance and facilitate crisis management.
Officials said the facility will play a crucial role in planning, coordination and decision-making during the pilgrimage. This year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28.
During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor also inaugurated a newly constructed Yatri Bhawan at the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal. The facility has been built to provide safe, hygienic and comfortable accommodation to devotees visiting the shrine from across the country and abroad.
Speaking on the occasion, Sinha said the project would significantly enhance the shrine’s capacity to host pilgrims and improve their overall spiritual experience. He recalled laying the foundation stone of the Yatri Bhawan on Jyeshtha Ashtami in 2024 following requests from devotees and members of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 3.85 crore by the Rural Engineering Wing under the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the ground-plus-two RCC structure has a plinth area of 3,885 square feet and can accommodate around 800 to 900 pilgrims through floor bedding arrangements.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple and prayed for peace, prosperity and the well-being of all citizens.
