News Brief
Amarnath By Road? BRO Expands Shrine Connectivity, PDP Deems It 'Biggest Crime' Against Hindu Faith
Nayan Dwivedi
Nov 07, 2023, 05:08 PM | Updated 05:08 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
In a significant development, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully expanded road connectivity to the holy shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir, making it accessible by a motorable road.
As per reports by Hindustan Times, The widening of the road from Dumail to the Amarnath cave via the Baltal base camp in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir is now complete, and the first set of vehicles has reached the shrine.
This expansion is expected to enhance the comfort and accessibility of the pilgrimage for devotees, as it allows them to reach the holy cave by road.
The BRO, responsible for this achievement, shared a video of the vehicles making their way to the Amarnath cave, highlighting their involvement in the restoration and improvement of Amarnath Yatra tracks.
However, this development has also drawn mixed reactions.
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) criticised the expansion, labeling it as the "biggest crime" against the faith of Hindus.
They expressed concerns that turning religious pilgrimages into picnic spots for political gains is ill-advised.
In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emphasised that the road expansion to the holy cave shrine was carried out with proper Environmental Impact Assessment, and no trees were harmed during the process.
BJP also suggested that PDP's opposition might be driven by political motivations.
The Amarnath shrine, situated at an altitude of 12,756 feet above sea level in the Ladar Valley, attracts thousands of devotees annually.
This year, more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims have offered their prayers at the holy shrine, underlining its significance in the region.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Nayan Dwivedi is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.