Amarnath Yatra Takes IT Route To Security

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Hyderabad: Here is some relief for those Amarnath pilgrims who feared attacks from militant groups enroute the chilly terrains of Jammu and Kashmir. Thanks to the latest technology ‘yatra management system,’ which will identify the intruders among the pilgrims using the fingerprinting method.

Bartronics India Ltd (BIL), is in the process of installing access control systems with biometric solutions at Mata Vaishno Devi temple and Amarnath temple.

All along the journey towards Amarnath shrine, security personnel are always on the alert mode to ensure that no intruders trespass in between the pilgrims. Despite security checks, every year there are reported deaths caused by militant tensions. Hence the boards of these temples have decided to use biometrics using fingerprints right from the check in to check out point.

“These steps are expected to increase the safety of the pilgrims from terrorists through identification from registration. The first of its kind of project in the country is expected to be implemented before the yatra for the current year is to be undertaken in July,” Bartronics managing director Sudhir Rao said. The Amarnath Shrine Board is expected to sign an agreement with Bartronics India to upgrade the security measures to address the convenience and safety of pilgrims.

Bartronics India, a provider of automatic information and data collection (AIDC) solutions, has suggested a fingerprint and image recognition solution to the board based on its experiences in implementing biometrics solutions at the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams.

The company’s yatra management system also has related activities like booking special poojas, room reservations or advance registration counters, etc, besides security. Mr Rao said data of over 40,000 persons are collected and verified every day. The database stores records for 60 days and the fingerprint and image of the pilgrims registering at remote locations is transferred to Web servers for facilitating verification.

Amarnath, one of the holiest Hindu shrines situated a few kilometers from Srinagar, is open for pilgrims during the months of July and August. For the rest of the year, the shrine is inaccessible due to heavy snowfall and landslides. The pilgrims start their journey from Srinagar on to Pahalgam and then to Baltal passing through about 22 kms of treacherous trek before they reach the holy shrine. The trek is dangerous from the point of view of harsh climatic conditions as well as threat from terrorists.