Puri, Sinha lay foundation stone of Amarnath yatri niwas in Jammu

Jammu, Jun 6 (PTI) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday jointly laid the foundation stone of an Amarnath yatri niwas and a disaster management centre here.

Sinha said a financial allocation of Rs 51 crore was received from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for the construction of the yatri niwas as part of the Social Corporate Responsibility.

He said significant progress is being made to develop infrastructure for the annual Amarnath Yatra in the Union Territory.

A complex has already been built in Chanderkote in Ramban district and more such complexes are being planned to ensure a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage experience to the yatris. The installation of mobile towers as well as the efforts of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to prepare the track for the pilgrimage are also underway, the Lt governor said.

Union Minister Puri expressed gratitude for being a part of “this momentous” occasion.

He said the yatri niwas will comprise 54 rooms and 18 dormitories.

Puri, the Housing and Urban Affairs minister, said the central government was ready to provide all possible support to built more facilities for the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.

Sinha said the complex, to be built in the scenic lower Shivaliks range on the outskirts of the city, will accommodate 2,500 pilgrims at a time.