JAMMU: The registration of pilgrims for Shri Amarnathji Yatra begins on 18th March, 2013 for both the Yatra routes – Baltal and Chandanwari routes – through 422 designated Bank Branches of Jammu & Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, YES Bank and HDFC Bank spread all over the country. This year’s 55 day Yatra shall commence simultaneously on both the routes from 28th June and culminate on Raksha Bandhan, the 21st August 2013.
Shri Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, SASB, informed that step-by-step procedure which the Yatris need to follow to register for the Yatra has been put on the Board’s website, www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. The website also contains the application form and state-wise list of Bank Branches with complete addresses which the Yatris can approach for registering themselves for this year’s pilgrimage.
The CEO said that the applicant-Yatri shall have to furnish Compulsory Health Certificate while seeking registration for this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra. Mr. Choudhary stated that the format of the Compulsory Health Certificate and state-wise list of doctors/institutes authorised to issue it have also been put on the website of the Shrine Board. He said that for ensuring against fraudulent Health Certificates, only such Health Certificates which are issued only by Doctors or Medical Institutes authorised by the concerned State Government/UT Administration shall be accepted at the registration Bank branches. He said that, for Yatra 2013, Health Certificates issued only after 1st March, 2013 would be valid.
The CEO further informed that, pursuant to the decision taken during the 24th meeting of the Shrine Board held on 31st January 2013, persons under the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years and ladies more than six weeks’ pregnant would not be registered for this year’s Yatra.
The CEO further informed that the Yatra Permits for this year’s Yatra would be different for each day of the week and route to facilitate police personnel deployed at the Access Control Gates at Baltal and Chandanwari in determining whether a Yatri possesses Yatra Permit valid for the relevant date and route. In this context, he cautioned the intending Yatris against undertaking this arduous Yatra without securing a Yatra Permit. Shri Choudhary stressed that, for ensuring effective security arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those Yatris who are in possession of a Yatra Permit which is valid for a specified date and route will be allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps, and cross the Entry Gates at Domel and Chandanwari. He appealed all intending Yatris to early complete the necessary formalities for Registration and timely obtain a Yatra Permit, in their own interest, so that they do not face any inconvenience on the date of their Yatra. (KMW News)Â
