JAMMU: Div Com Jammu, Ramesh Kumar along with ADGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the arrangements for the Shri Amarnath Yatra– 2023. The meeting was attended by IG CRPF, Mahesh Laddha; Inspector General (IG) of Border Security Force (BSF), D K Boora; IG Traffic, Bhim Singh Tuti; DIG Traffic, Shridhar Patel; DIGs of Jammu Samba Kathua Range, Reasi Udhampur range, Ramban Kishtwar range, Commissioner JMC, Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur, Kathua, Samba and Ramban, Joint Director Information, ADC Jammu, besides senior officers of Army, JPDCL, Jal Shakti, PWD, Tourism, Health, NHAI, and other concerned departments while outstation officers participated through video conferencing. The Div Com emphasised the need for the stakeholder departments to work together to make sufficient preparations well in advance to ensure the holy Yatra is conducted without incident. At Yatri Niwas, instructions were given for accelerating face-lifting, sanitation work, and other necessary tasks. The Div Com gave the Deputy Commissioners instructions to locate holding spaces and places to stay in their respective districts. The DCs were subsequently instructed to locate acceptable locations in their respective districts for laners, devotee accommodations, and automobile parking.The Div Com reviewed registration arrangements, including RFID, security arrangements, transportation facilities for sadhus and yatries, setting up of langars and their permissions, housing for sadhus and Yatris, sanitation, boarding and lodging facilities at yatri niwas, as well as public address system. Threadbare discussions were held on the important issues. The Bhagwati Nagar parking arrangements, security measures, the installation of CCTVs, medical facilities, water and power supplies, etc. were all thoroughly assessed by the Div Com. The Div Com gave the Traffic Department the task of creating a traffic strategy to ensure smooth traffic flow on key roads. The Div Com also instructed JMC to clean up the city and make other associated improvements, while PWD was instructed to ensure that the approach roads were blacktopped well in advance to assure their suitability for traffic. The Div Com requested MD JKRTC to provide additional buses at Yatri Niwas and en-route the districts while examining the transportation infrastructure. For the benefit of the pilgrims, the Div Com gave the DCs the order to oversee the operation of lavatory facilities and establish a suitable number of portable toilets and water coolers along the highway.He directed the DCs of Ramban, Samba, Udhampur, Kathua, and Jammu to visit the designated lodgement centres and check that each one has access to water, electricity, and restrooms. The Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar facilities were also thoroughly evaluated by the Div Com, which also gave instructions on how to make all necessary preparations in a timely manner. The Div Com instructed NHAI to maintain the cleanliness of the National Highway in light of the completed construction work. He gave the order to clear the route of unneeded building debris.The Div Com gave orders to all the involved departments to hasten the work so that it is completed well in advance of the start of the Yatra. For sufficient security measures, traffic management, proper handing over and taking over, and CCTV installation on Langer and Lodgment centres, the ADGP issued directives. He also gave orders to the relevant officers to make sure the Cut Off Time is observed correctly. The establishment of joint control rooms in Jammu and Ramban with officers from the Army, CRPF, and police was also emphasised by the ADGP. To guarantee the smooth running of the Yatra, he emphasised strong collaboration among all the security services.
