Jammu: The government announced significant improvements in telecom infrastructure to provide better mobile connectivity to pilgrims participating in the Amarnath Yatra. The Department of Telecommunications said that, in collaboration with major telecom service providers including Airtel, BSNL and Reliance Jio, infrastructure has been worked on to provide continuous coverage on the travel routes.
Better mobile connectivity will be available on the travel route
Giving information, the Department of Telecommunications said, “A total of 82 sites will be activated to ensure coverage. A total of 31 new sites have been set up on the travel routes, increasing the total number from 51 in 2023 to 82 in 2024. The aim of this increase is to provide mobile connectivity to pilgrims and the general public.”
SIM distribution centers opened on the travel route
According to the Department of Telecommunications, facilities of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G technology have been provided at many places for pilgrims and the general public on the routes from Lakhanpur to Qazigund and Qazigund to Pahalgam and Baltal. Besides, SIM distribution centres have been opened at other places to provide telecommunication facilities to the pilgrims.
SIM distribution centres opened at these places
Lakhanpur
Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar
Chandrakot
Anantnag
Srinagar
Srinagar Airport
Pahalgam
Sonamarg
Baltal
More than 1.82 lakh pilgrims visited
In the last nine days, more than 1.82 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave of Amarnath, while another batch of 5,803 pilgrims left for Kashmir on Monday. Pilgrims travel either by the 48 km long traditional Pahalgam route or the 14 km long shorter Baltal route. While those using the Pahalgam route take four days to reach the temple, those using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after the ‘darshan’.
