ET Plus Report
Srinagar, Mar 9 : There will be no on line registration facility for the yatris undertaking the pilgrimage to Holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir HimalaAyas this year.
However, the number of bank branchs, where the pilgrims can register themselves from March 18 has been increased to 422 across the country from 276 last year.
For the first time, SBI, PNB and HDFC Banks are participating in the registration process. Those below the age of 13 years and above 75 years besides pregnant lady with more than six weeks pregnancy will not be allowed to undertake the yatra.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Naveen Kumar Choudhary has said the provision of on-line facility has been discontinued from this year.
He said this has been done because of the gross misuse of this facility in previous year, and also due to requirement of first verifying whether a Yatri possesses a valid Compulsory Health Certificate or not. The process of registering Yatris shall commence from March 18, simultaneously for both shortest Baltal and traditional Chandanwari routes at 422 Bank Branches across the country. Mr Choudhary informed that Yatris who wish to undertake this year's pilgrimage can register themselves from Registration Counters located all across the country through 422 designated Branches of J&K Bank, YES Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and HDFC Bank spread over all the States and Union Territories (UTs).
Full details of all the Registration Centres has been made available on the Board's website:www.shriamarnathji shrine.com, he said.
This year's Yatra shall commence simultaneously, from Baltal and the Chandanwari routes, from June 28 and will culminate on Raksha Bandhan, August 21, 2013 |
