Vaishno Devi shrine board prepares for New Year rush
Joint round-the-clock monitoring is now underway, with special focus on high-footfall and congested areas
Anticipating a heavy influx of pilgrims during the New Year, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) on Tuesday reviewed comprehensive arrangements to ensure a safe, smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage.
The review meeting was chaired by the Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Sachin Kumar Vaishya. Senior officials of the Shrine Board, district administration, security agencies and other key stakeholders attended the meeting.
During the review, the CEO directed authorities to further strengthen Yatra management and security, particularly along the track and at the Bhawan. Emphasis was laid on strict regulation of the pilgrimage through RFID-based access control, ensuring that only pilgrims with valid RFID cards are allowed to proceed. Additional handheld RFID scanners and adequate manpower at key checkpoints were ordered to prevent any lapses.
The CEO was informed that a comprehensive training programme has been conducted at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), SGC Katra. Joint round-the-clock monitoring is now underway, with special focus on high-footfall and congested areas to ensure real-time surveillance, prompt response and enhanced situational awareness.
The Fire and Emergency Services department was tasked with deploying firefighting vehicles at strategic locations along the track and conducting a thorough fire safety audit of the Shrine area. The CEO stressed strict adherence to prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and emphasised meticulous compliance with all disaster preparedness measures.
He also directed that the existing sound system along the track be upgraded into a fully functional Public Address System to enable timely dissemination of important announcements. Agencies were further instructed to ensure proper verification of individuals employed in private establishments and service operations along the track to maintain security and the sanctity of the Shrine area.
Special attention was given to traffic management, particularly unauthorised parking in the Banganga area and along the Tarakote Marg.
Security agencies briefed the meeting on the multi-tier security arrangements in place, involving the Police, CRPF and Shrine Board security personnel, supported by Quick Response Teams (QRTs). The use of advanced surveillance tools for real-time threat assessment was also highlighted.
