Amarnath Shrine accessible by road, sparks controversy
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Amarnath Shrine accessible by road, sparks controversy

Celebrating a significant achievement, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully extended the road network to the revered Amarnath shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, providing motorable access to the holy cave. This development, aimed at enhancing the convenience and accessibility of the pilgrimage, involved widening the road from Dumail to the Amarnath cave through the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, central Kashmir. Officials confirmed the completion of this expansion, with the inaugural batch of vehicles reaching the shrine, praising the BRO for their historic accomplishment in establishing road connectivity to the Amarnath cave.

The BRO, through Project Beacon, undertook the restoration and improvement of the Amarnath Yatra tracks. They shared a video showcasing the vehicles' journey to the Amarnath cave, highlighting their remarkable feat and the historic moment when the holy cave became accessible via a motorable road.

Previously, the Baltal shrine track in Ganderbal district was maintained by the Jammu and Kashmir government's Public Works Department (PWD), and the Pahalgam shrine route in Anantnag district was managed by the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA). In September of the previous year, the responsibility for maintenance and upgrading of the Amarnath Yatra tracks was transferred to the BRO.

However, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) criticized this development, denouncing it as a grave offense against Hindu faith. PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan expressed his disapproval, arguing that transforming religious pilgrimages into mere picnic spots for political gains amounted to sacrilege. He emphasized the sanctity of Hinduism, rooted in the connection with nature, and warned against disregarding the lessons from past natural disasters in places like Joshimath and Kedarnath, urging caution in altering the spiritual landscape of Kashmir.

Celebrating a significant achievement, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully extended the road network to the revered Amarnath shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, providing motorable access to the holy cave. This development, aimed at enhancing the convenience and accessibility of the pilgrimage, involved widening the road from Dumail to the Amarnath cave through the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, central Kashmir. Officials confirmed the completion of this expansion, with the inaugural batch of vehicles reaching the shrine, praising the BRO for their historic accomplishment in establishing road connectivity to the Amarnath cave. The BRO, through Project Beacon, undertook the restoration and improvement of the Amarnath Yatra tracks. They shared a video showcasing the vehicles' journey to the Amarnath cave, highlighting their remarkable feat and the historic moment when the holy cave became accessible via a motorable road. Previously, the Baltal shrine track in Ganderbal district was maintained by the Jammu and Kashmir government's Public Works Department (PWD), and the Pahalgam shrine route in Anantnag district was managed by the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA). In September of the previous year, the responsibility for maintenance and upgrading of the Amarnath Yatra tracks was transferred to the BRO. However, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) criticized this development, denouncing it as a grave offense against Hindu faith. PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan expressed his disapproval, arguing that transforming religious pilgrimages into mere picnic spots for political gains amounted to sacrilege. He emphasized the sanctity of Hinduism, rooted in the connection with nature, and warned against disregarding the lessons from past natural disasters in places like Joshimath and Kedarnath, urging caution in altering the spiritual landscape of Kashmir.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code