NEW DELHI: The annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which will begin on July 1 this year and continue for 62 days till Raksha Bandhan on August 30, will allow yatris to authenticate their Aadhaar details at the registration stage itself, by submitting their biometrics at the specified bank branches issuing the stamped yatra permits.
Earlier, Aadhaar authentication had to be done by the yatris only after arrival at the tourist centres in J&K, which was cumbersome as it required them to wait in long queues to authenticate their identity with biometrics. Only after such authentication were the yatris issued the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for proceeding with the yatra. Yatris can now submit their biometrics at the specified local bank branches at the time of payment of yatra fee and getting their yatra permits with the bank seal. After reaching J&K, all they need to do is collect their RFID tags.
A senior J&K government functionary said the facility of biometric authentication of Aadhaar at the bank branches, being rolled out for the first time in the history of Amarnath yatra, will make the process of securing the on (RFID) tags simpler and faster.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha, who is also ex-officio chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board said the registration for the yatra will begin from April 17. He said the J&K administration is committed to ensuring a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage. Sources said the yatra will have multi-layered security with heavy deployment of central paramilitary forces, apart from drone surveillance.
“Hassle-free pilgrimage, best healthcare and essential facilities to devotees are top priorities of PM Modi and Amit Shah. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers,” said Sinha.
Earlier, Aadhaar authentication had to be done by the yatris only after arrival at the tourist centres in J&K, which was cumbersome as it required them to wait in long queues to authenticate their identity with biometrics. Only after such authentication were the yatris issued the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for proceeding with the yatra. Yatris can now submit their biometrics at the specified local bank branches at the time of payment of yatra fee and getting their yatra permits with the bank seal. After reaching J&K, all they need to do is collect their RFID tags.
A senior J&K government functionary said the facility of biometric authentication of Aadhaar at the bank branches, being rolled out for the first time in the history of Amarnath yatra, will make the process of securing the on (RFID) tags simpler and faster.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha, who is also ex-officio chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board said the registration for the yatra will begin from April 17. He said the J&K administration is committed to ensuring a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage. Sources said the yatra will have multi-layered security with heavy deployment of central paramilitary forces, apart from drone surveillance.
“Hassle-free pilgrimage, best healthcare and essential facilities to devotees are top priorities of PM Modi and Amit Shah. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers,” said Sinha.
