SRINAGAR, JULY 01: A high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, was held today to review the traffic scenario on NH-44 and roads leading to Pahalgam and Baltal, as the ShriAmarnathjiYatra 2023 commences. The meeting brought together representatives from the civil and police administration to ensure a smooth and facilitative approach to the management of affairs during the pilgrimage.
Dr Mehta, acknowledging the progress made by Jammu and Kashmir, emphasized the need for streamlined traffic flow for both tourists and civilian vehicles, as well as the yatris on the National Highway. He urged officials to maintain a reasonable gap between different types of vehicles to avoid any difficulties in reaching their respective destinations. Recognizing the improved infrastructure, including the four-lane highway and tunnels, he expressed confidence that these developments would have a positive impact on the ground. The Chief Secretary called upon the authorities to efficiently fulfil their roles.
To ensure effective implementation, Dr Mehta directed senior officers from the Traffic Department to personally supervise and monitor their subordinates through field inspections. He advised them to take full responsibility for the efficient utilization of available resources. The Chief Secretary inquired about the utilization of traffic management equipment such as CCTV installations on the National Highway, motorbikes, interceptors, and their effectiveness. He requested a comprehensive report on these measures within the next few days. Additionally, he stressed the importance of leveraging the Integrated Command and Control Centers in both capital cities to enhance traffic management. He also urged the adoption of e-Challaning within city limits to improve control over traffic violations.
Regarding the movement of yatra participants and other tourists, Dr Mehta emphasized the need for facilitation and avoidance of undue restrictions. He highlighted the significance of adhering to the prescribed time discipline outlined in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the safety of all individuals involved. The Chief Secretary called for comprehensive awareness campaigns at base camps and tourist locations, such as Pahalgam and Sonamarg, to ensure compliance with the designated timings and enable visitors to fully enjoy the breathtaking locales of Jammu and Kashmir.
In order to gauge the satisfaction level of general tourists, Dr Mehta instructed both Divisional Commissioners to collect feedback from at least 100 tourists daily on both the yatra axis, in order to assess their travel experiences. He also requested the recording of hourly traffic volume from major diversions along the Jammu route, including Nagrota, Domail, Udhampur, Nashri Tunnel, Ramban, Banihal, Navyug Tunnel, Qazigund, Mirbazar, Khanabal, Sangam, and Pampore, up until reaching Srinagar. This data will provide valuable insights for developing future strategies.
Other instructions issued by the Chief Secretary during the meeting included providing trading opportunities for locals in accordance with past practices, strict compliance with RFID-based registrations, restrictions on overcrowding of passenger vehicles, and ensuring proper waste collection and cleanliness along the route and in the base camps, to ensure a pleasant experience for all devotees.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to ensuring the successful and safe conduct of the ShriAmarnathjiYatra 2023, while prioritizing the comfort and satisfaction of the participants and tourists.
