Jammu, Jun 27: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, said on Friday that tight security measures are in place for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which begins on July 3, with the deployment of 183 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and CISF, in addition to Jammu & Kashmir Police and the Indian Army.
Speaking after a key coordination meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, IGP Tuti stressed that this year’s deployment is 30 companies more than last year, aimed at bolstering security across five districts — Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Ramban.
He said a multi-layered security grid is operational along the entire pilgrimage route. Measures include Road Opening Patrols, CCTV surveillance, facial recognition systems, and increased troop presence from Lakhanpur to Banihal on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The high-level meeting also reviewed logistics such as RFID registration centers, healthcare facilities, sanitation, traffic control, and power backup at Bhagwati Nagar base camp, from where the first batch of yatris will depart on July 2.
The 38-day pilgrimage will follow two routes: the 48-km traditional path via Pahalgam in Anantnag and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal.
IGP Tuti urged pilgrims to travel only in official convoys, stressing that independent movement is unsafe. Traffic advisories, including cut-off timings and travel protocols, will be issued daily from July 2.
Security drills and mountaintop domination exercises are being carried out along the route to deter terrorist infiltration. Additional transit camps have also been established at Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam).
These arrangements follow the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and the recent military operations by Indian forces targeting terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.
Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar emphasized the importance of ensuring civic amenities, directing departments to guarantee power supply, generator availability, toilets, sanitation staff, and public announcements through the Information Department.
Furthermore, e-bus services will be promoted by Jammu Smart City Limited for pilgrims interested in exploring local attractions.
The administration reiterated its commitment to providing a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience with the help of technology-driven security, inter-agency coordination, and efficient logistics.
