In a major initiative, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has tied up with the Department of Posts for registration of pilgrims through select post offices across the country.
“The Department of Posts will start the registration of yatris (travellers) on behalf of SASB from May 7. As many as 100 post offices across the country have been identified in this regard,” the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Navin K. Choudhary, who concluded his four-day intensive tour of base camps enroute the 3,880-m high holy cave shrine, said here.
He said the facility will be in addition to the 174 bank branches and via the Internet based e-registration system already announced by the Board.
Until last year, the registration was done only through Jammu and Kashmir Bank and YES Bank.
Mr Choudhary said the Board had requested the Department of Posts to do the registration of the travellers across the country, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Postmaster General, Mr John Samuel, said the Department of Posts has a large network of 1.55 lakh post offices across the country and given the vast infrastructure, the post office is in a position to provide various services to the customers.
As a part of registration process, the travellers will submit the application form along with the prescribed medical certificate, he said.
The Chief Postmaster General also announced that four Yatri Post Offices would be established along the route for the benefit of the pilgrims.
“These Yatri Post Offices will provide basic postal services, including letter post, registered post and speed post facilities for the benefit of the yatris,” he said, adding that for more than 20 years these Yatri post offices have been non-functional.