Registration of service providers for Amarnath Yatra begins in Ganderbal

Ganderbal, June 22: With the annual Amarnath Yatra commences from June 29, the authorities have started registration of the service providers who want to render their services for this year’s annual Yatra via Baltal axis in Ganderbal district.

Officials said that the labour department in Ganderbal has already started the registration process of service providers including Ponywallas, Palki Walaas by organising special registration camps including at the Sonamarg area. They said that the administration has initiated the online registration process to ensure hassle-free registration of the service providers.

The pilgrimage to the shrine located at a height of 3,880 metre in the south Kashmir Himalayas will begin on June 29.

The Yatra has two routes, the traditional 48-km route through Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.

Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) Ganderbal Beenish Wani told Greater Kashmir that the registration process has already started and so far more than 12000 service providers, who transport pilgrims on ponies, pithus and palkis during the Amarnath Yatra, have registered for extension of services ahead of the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine.

She said that the labour department Ganderbal has also issued over 2000 RFID cards to the service providers. " The administration has initiated the online provision to ensure hassle-free registration of the service providers which makes the process transparent and convenient for the people" ALC said. She further said that the registration is done only after the proper verification report from the police department.

ALC said that special camps for issuance of RFID cards will also be organised so that service providers do not face any difficulty and are ready to provide their services to the pilgrims well before the commencement of the Yatra.