The holy Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas was connected through mobile service to help the pilgrims to remain in touch with their families during 55 days long pilgrimage, which commenced from July 1.
So far, 85,000 pilgrims from different parts of the country had darshan of the self made ice-Shiv Lingam.
Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot commissioned the mobile phone connectivity at the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji today by making an inaugural call from the cave to Governor N N Vohra.
Mr Pilot informed the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), that with the commissioning of this facility at the holy cave, cellular phone connectivity has become available at Baltal, Chandanwari and holy cave, while other camp locations like Panjtarni and Sheshnag are expected to get connected with mobile network, within this week.
Mr Pilot thanked the Governor and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for extending all required support and encouragement.
The Governor lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and IT and expressed gratitude to Mr Pilot for this first ever initiative.
Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, R K Goyal said it was part of a number of new initiatives taken this year to progressively improve the Yatra management. Mr Vohra had taken up the matter with the Union Communications Ministry for extending mobile phone connectivity, with a view to providing real time telecommunication facility for effective Yatra management, Mr Goyal added.
He also complimented the BSNL for already making functional cellular phone connectivity at Baltal, Chandanwari, Panjtarni and at the holy cave, which will enable the Yatris to maintain telephonic contact with their families, Mr Goyal added.
He said the Board had already procured Digital Satellite Phones during the ongoing Yatra this year, which have been installed at the crucial camps at Sheshnag, Panjtarni and the holy cave, and have proved to be extremely useful in monitoring the Yatra arrangements as also the movement of Yatris.
The Yatris, who were present on the occasion, expressed their satisfaction at the commissioning of the mobile phone connectivity at the holy cave and said this is yet another addition to several new initiatives taken by the Board this year with a view to facilitate the visiting pilgrims.
The Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Kuldeep Goyal and other senior officers of the BSNL, the Shrine Board and State Government departments were present on the occasion.