Amarnath Yatra: 228 Km NH-44 Stretch Under Review As NHAI, J&K Officials Gear Up For Safe And Seamless Pilgrimage

In preparation for the Amarnath Yatra 2025, scheduled to begin on 3 July, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) held a comprehensive review meeting on Tuesday (July 1) to assess the readiness of the Jammu–Srinagar NH-44 corridor, a critical stretch on the pilgrimage route.

As per a report by The Hindu, the review focused on road surface quality, lane markings, and road safety protocols, with particular emphasis on deploying Quick Response Teams equipped to handle emergencies such as inclement weather, flash floods, and landslides.

The 228-km stretch under NHAI's jurisdiction was reviewed in detail to ensure safe and uninterrupted travel for pilgrims.

The meeting was chaired by NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, and attended by Member (Technical) Alok Deepankar, J&K PWD Secretary Bhupinder Kumar, and field officers from Jammu and Kashmir. Officials were instructed to accelerate work on under-construction sections and ensure that all routes are fully operational before the Yatra begins.

Chairman Yadav underscored the importance of close coordination between central agencies and local administration, reiterating that the comfort and safety of devotees and commuters must remain the top priority.

As part of the preparedness effort, five ambulances were contributed by Quazigund Expressway Pvt. Ltd. for use in Ramban and Anantnag districts. These were formally flagged off by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Given that the Yatra passes through a Union Territory, the responsibility for law and order lies with the Union Government. Officials indicated that the Centre will take necessary steps as required, in consultation with the UT administration, to ensure a safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.