The Indian government has announced substantial upgrades to telecom infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted mobile connectivity for pilgrims participating in the Amarnath Yatra. In collaboration with leading telecom service providers such as Airtel, BSNL, and Reliance Jio, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has enhanced the network to provide continuous coverage along the Yatra routes.Expanded Network CoverageThe DoT stated, “To ensure coverage, a total of 82 sites (Airtel, RJIL, and BSNL) shall be active. A total of 31 new sites have been installed along the Yatra routes, increasing the total number from 51 in 2023 to 82 in 2024. This enhancement aims to provide seamless mobile connectivity to pilgrims and public. The routes from Lakhanpur to Qazigund and from Qazigund to Pahalgam and Baltal are now fully covered with 2G, 3G, and 4G technology, with 5G available in many locations.SIM Distribution CentresTo further facilitate pilgrims, key SIM distribution centres have been established at various locations, including Lakhanpur, Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar, Chanderkot, Anantnag, Srinagar, Srinagar Airport, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and Baltal. These centres aim to provide convenient access to telecom services for pilgrims.Pilgrim StatisticsOver the past nine days, more than 1.82 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, with another batch of 5,803 travellers departing for Kashmir on Monday. Pilgrims can choose between the 48 km long traditional Pahalgam route, which takes four days to reach the cave shrine, or the shorter 14 km Baltal route, which allows them to return to the base camp on the same day after darshan.