Srinagar, June 03: Director General Border Roads organisation (BRO) Rajeev Chaudhary on Saturday said that all tracks leading to Amarnath holy Cave have been widened and safety measures for pilgrims are in place to avoid any untoward incident.

Addressing the presser in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he said the restoration works on Amarnath Yatra tracks will be completed by June 15. Apart from that BRO will be deploying machines & QRT teams in places at landslide prone areas, he said.

“This year, we are expecting over 5 lakh pilgrims who will be visiting Amarnath as more than 3.65 lakh pilgrims visit the holy cave in 2022. Centre has given us permission to improve border roads and these tracks will be completed by June 15 positively,” he said.

DG BRO said this year in view of increased flow of devotees, the Amarnath Track was widened and for the safety of pilgrims, hand grills are being setup till Amarnath Cave.

“During rains, pilgrims can take shelter in sheds and more facilities are being upgraded along the tracks,” he said.

DG BRO Chaudhary said Amarnath is the oldest track that is being maintained by BRO. Last year it was formally handed over by the state government to BRO for further maintenance and upgradation, he said.

He also commended the Karamyogis of Project Beacon for the restoration work being executed on the tracks.  Despite the loss of precious time due to inclement weather during Apr – May 2023, the tracks will be made available to the Civil Administration by 15 Jun 2023 as desired, he said.

DG BRO informed that the restoration works for further improvement of the tracks will continue even after the completion of Yatra this year to facilitate better quality tracks for subsequent years.

“The basic scope of work involved snow clearance, widening of the track, restoration of all foot bridges, fixing of hand rails, protection works at slide prone stretches and construction of breast walls and retaining walls for protection of the track,” he said.

“Snow clearance, using plant machinery, commenced on both the tracks from Baltal and Chandanwari in the last week of Mar 2023. Concurrent to the progress of snow clearance of the tracks, additional plant equipment and manpower were employed for other restoration works,” the DG BRO said.

Earlier DG BRO also visited Baltal and Chandanwari today and inspected the progress of work on both the Yatra Tracks.

He was briefed in detail by CE Beacon on the status of various tasks being undertaken by BRO and the envisaged completion plan before the commencement of the Yatra 2023.