Jammu, June 26: The Amarnath Yatra this year may see the highest footfall as the advance registrations for the two-month-long annual shrine have already crossed 2 lakh pilgrims. Over 28,000 pilgrims have been booked for yatra through helicopters apart from registration of 2,122 foreign tourists, officials associated with registration of the yatra informed. The annual yatra this year will be longer by 20 days against last year's 40 days.

According to reports, the registration is being done at 440 branches of the Punjab National Bank, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and the YES Bank across the country. For the unversed, the registration for the Amarnath yatra began on March 1. The annual yatra to the shrine will commence on June 28 and will culminate on August 26.

The higher footfall this year can be attributed to cheaper helicopter fares due to the Goods and Service Tax (GST) being implemented in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). According to a report by Economic Times, the GST in the state has brought tax charged on this service down from 12% to 5%, and a one-way chopper ride is available at just Rs 1600. The advance online booking of helicopter tickets for the Amarnath pilgrimage had started on April 27.

Reports inform that on-spot registration facility during the Yatra period will be available at four places in Jammu - Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Jammu Haat and Geeta Bhawan-Ram Mandir. It must be noted that no person below the age of 13 years or above 75 years is registered even though he or she might have obtained the compulsory health certificate.

On Monday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her daylong visit reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LoC) and held at separate meetings with Governor, N.N. Vohra, and senior Army commanders and officers of police and civil administration.

Earlier this month, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) had visited various camps of the annual Amarnath Yatra and reviewed the security and other arrangements there.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 04:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).