Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!đ Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Raman Suri today said that starting 24-hour registration and RFID card issuance for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims is a progressive and pilgrim-centric step which will boost pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine. He said this initiative will greatly ease the journey for devotees and improve pilgrimage management in the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir.
Raman Suri said that these extended facilities will shorten the length of queues by almost half, providing much-needed relief to visiting pilgrims. âFor years, yatris were compelled to wait unnecessarily at the Katra base camp simply because registration and RFID facilities were not available round the clock. This new 24Ă7 system will end that inconvenience once and for all,â he added.
He explained that until now, registration was only available between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m., which often forced pilgrimsâespecially those arriving lateâto stay in Katra overnight. Given that nearly 10 million devotees visit the holy shrine annually, the restricted timings caused overcrowding and delays. The issue became more pronounced after direct rail connectivity to Katra began, as many trains arrive around 10 p.m. or later, leaving thousands of passengers waiting for hours to obtain mandatory registration.
âWith the 24-hour registration facility now in place, pilgrims can reach anytime, register immediately, and proceed towards the holy shrine without delay,â Suri stated. He added that this reform will also help distribute footfall more evenly throughout the day, reducing unnecessary crowding at Katra and improving overall yatra management.
Raman Suri said the new system will especially benefit those travelling during peak seasons, harsh winters, and the busy New Year rush when thousands of devotees congregate in Katra for darshan. âBy allowing seamless, round-the-clock registration, the administration has empowered devotees to plan their journey freely and comfortably. This step will undoubtedly increase convenience, reduce pressure on local infrastructure, and could even boost pilgrim numbers in the coming days,â he noted.
He praised the administration for prioritising devoteesâ needs and reaffirmed BJPâs commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen religious tourism, enhance facilities, and uphold the spiritual significance of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra. He added that more such efforts should be initiated with banks and other financial institutions so that pilgrims could get the registration done in their cities prior to beginning their Yatra.
