Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, June 30

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir will begin on-the-spot registration for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage from Wednesday, with officials introducing a token-based system and expanded registration facilities to manage the expected influx of devotees ahead of the pilgrimage’s commencement later this week.

Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said the main registration centre has been established at the Tawi riverfront in Jammu, where pilgrims holding tokens issued on Tuesday will complete their registration and receive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards, which authorities have made mandatory for security tracking during the pilgrimage.

Separate registration facilities have also been set up for the general public at Mahajan Sabha and for sadhus at Geeta Bhawan and Purani Mandi, while pilgrims arriving by train will be able to collect RFID cards at Jammu railway station in addition to designated centres at Bhagwati Nagar and the Tawi riverfront.

Officials said pilgrims who have already completed online registration must also obtain RFID cards after completing electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification before reporting to Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on the eve of their scheduled departure.

Additional RFID distribution centres have been established at Lakhanpur, Chichi Mata temple, Chanderkote and Banihal to facilitate smoother movement of pilgrims travelling towards the cave shrine.

The arrangements come amid heavy demand for on-the-spot registration, with long queues forming outside token distribution centres on Tuesday as thousands of pilgrims sought to secure places in the first batch of the pilgrimage.

Authorities said around 4,000 people reported to the registration facility on the opening day of token distribution, prompting deployment of additional security personnel and crowd-management measures at the venue.

Many pilgrims said they had arrived during the night to improve their chances of obtaining registration tokens after daily quotas were announced.

Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rakesh Minhas said all arrangements had been put in place to ensure a smooth registration process and comfortable stay for pilgrims awaiting their onward journey.

Officials reiterated that all pilgrims must carry mandatory health certificates and comply with eligibility guidelines issued by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, including age-related restrictions applicable to the pilgrimage.

The annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3 under extensive security arrangements, with authorities expecting tens of thousands of pilgrims to travel through the Jammu base camp during the coming weeks.