All registered pilgrims for Amarnath yatra can stay connected with their dear ones during the visit to the shrine as government-owned BSNL will provide them temporary prepaid sim cards which will remain operative for seven days.
Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Navin K Choudhary said that all pilgrims will get temporary prepaid sim cards this year, which would remain operative for seven days as compared to four day validity of sim cards provided to them during last year's yatra.
"This pre-paid sim card facility is extremely valuable for those yatris who do not possess a BSNL mobile facility," he added.
The CEO also said that the BSNL would issue these prepaid sim cards only to the registered yatris at special counters which would be set up at the Nunwan and Baltal base camps.
Yatris would have to provide proof of identity, proof of permanent address and their valid registration papers at these counters, he added.
The decision to enhance telecom facilities for pilgrims was take in a recent meeting of SASB, chaired by Governor and SASB Chairman N N Vohra, for smooth conduct of this year's yatra and to enhance convenience for the pilgrim, an SASB spokesman said.
He said all related aspects of provide telecom facilities were discussed in a recent meeting held at New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary (Kashmir), Ministry of Home Affairs.
The telecommunication department has agreed to consider allotment of separate funds for creating permanent infrastructure for providing telecom facilities for the future yatras.
The department has also advised private service providers to pool their resources and explore the feasibility of erecting telecom towers in the yatra area for the benefit of pilgrims.
