Centre sanctions Rs 20 crore for Amarnath via Baltal

Baltal, Amarnath base camp, May 27 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for construction of 17.5 km long road for the pilgrims visiting the holy Amarnath cave from this route, an official spokesman said today.

He said Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt General (Retd.) S K Sinha, who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) laid the foundation stone of the road from Ranga Mor to Sangam.

Speaking on the occasion, he said this road will greatly help pilgrims embarking on the arduous track for the pilgrimage.

He said he had obtained the approval from the Centre for this 17.5 km road stretch.

''This will cost about Rs 20 crore,'' the Governor said adding the work on this project will be completed in two phases by 2008.

In the first phase, the 7.5 km road from Ranga Mor to Dumel, costing Rs 8 crore, will be ready by September next year while the work on another 10 km from Dumel to Sangam in the second phase will be completed by September 2008 at a cost of about Rs 12 crore.

He asked the engineers to expedite the work to complete the portion of the road from Ranga Mor to the pilgrim camp and the loop road within the camp by June 11 this year when the yatra to the holy cave is scheduled to commence.

He recalled when he was at Baltal in November 1948 after the successful assault across Zojila on November lst, the Army engineers under Major Thangavala made the road from Baltal in three days. It was a far more difficult terrain covering a longer stretch from Ranga Mor to Baltal Tourist Camp, at that time, he added.

The old road built in 1948, which was then called Thangavala Road still exists.

General Sinha said the yatra to the cave, through both the routes of Pahalgham and Baltal, is impossible without the active support of the local people.

He complimented the people for their hospitality and warmth towards the pilgrims. Over four lakh devotees have visited the holy cave during the past two years.

''We are expecting the number of pilgrims to go up to five lakhs this year,'' he said, adding in 2003 a little over one lakh pilgrims visited the cave.

The proposed tunnel at Zojila will benefit the people on both sides, integrating Ladakh with Kashmir.

He appreciated the suggestion of the local MLA to develop the old abandoned route across the Zojila so that two-way traffic across the pass is available instead of the existing one way traffic.

UNI BAS AK ND1506