On-spot registration for yatra token holders to begin today

Jammu, Jun 30: Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday informed that on-spot registration of pilgrims for annual Shri Amarnath Yatra would begin from Wednesday morning at the Tawi river front. “In Jammu, the main registration centre has been established at Tawi riverfront with proper facilities to ensure that the citizens in Jammu don’t face any inconvenience. Token system has already been initiated today to manage daily quotas for pilgrims seeking registration. Those, who have received tokens today, will come for on-spot registration tomorrow. They will also get their RFID cards there which is imperative for tracking to ensure pilgrims’ security. Registration centres have also been also set up at Mahajan Sabha for the general public and at Geeta Bhawan and Purani Mandi for Sadhus,” he shared in a press conference here. He pointed out that the pilgrims, who would reach Jammu through rail, would get their RFID cards at Railway Station Jammu besides at Tawi riverfront and Bhagwati Nagar base camp. Inspector General of Police Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, DIG Jammu-Samba-Kathua Shridhar Patil and Deputy Commissioner Jammu Dr Rakesh Minhas accompanied the Divisional Commissioner in the press conference. “Those, who have registered online, can receive their RFID cards at Lakhanpur, Chichi Mata temple, Samba, Jammu Railway Station, Tawi Riverfront or Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas. Pilgrims must complete their e-KYC and collect their RFID tags from these centres before entering the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas by 10 pm a day before departing for Pahalgam or Baltal base camps in the Yatra convoy under proper security protocol,” he said, adding that the pilgrims would be able to receive the RFID cards at Chanderkote and Banihal in Ramban also. Earlier heavy rush was witnessed at registration centres on Tuesday to get tokens for on-spot registration. Though ten token distribution centres were set up at the Tawi riverfront amid heavy security cover, it proved to be quite tough for the security personnel to manage the crowd as the counters opened to exhaust a day’s quota. Many people, waiting in serpentine queues for the tokens, maintained that they gathered there during midnight to avail tokens so as to be the part of the first batch of Yatra. “Today it was the first day and there was great enthusiasm among the people, arriving here for on-spot registration. So far, 4000 people have arrived here and all arrangements are in place for their comfortable stay and pilgrimage,” said DC Jammu Rakesh Minhas. Reiterating the appeal to pilgrims to strictly follow the Shrine Board guidelines and carry mandatory health certificates, Minhas said, “Those above 70 years of age and the children below 13 years are not allowed to undertake Yatra. Token distribution process is going on in a transparent manner and the on-spot registration process too will begin tomorrow.”