Facing an outcry from Jammu & Kashmir-based political parties, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Saturday clarified that the ongoing road project to the Amarnath cave shrine was to widen the tracks for pedestrian traffic and keeping in view the environmental concerns.
“The work of widening of tracks leading to the holy cave has been undertaken in line with the directions of the Supreme Court of India. The Court in 2012 issued the directions for sufficient widening of tracks to facilitate pedestrian traffic and address congestion on the track, improvement of critical stretches of the existing track, provide safety railings and retaining walls along the vulnerable stretches etc. keeping in view the environmental concerns,” the BRO said, in a statement.
The BRO termed the reports of access to the cave shrine through vehicular road as “factually incorrect”. “The BRO has undertaken widening of the tracks meant for movement of yatris on foot, by palkis or dandies and on ponies,” the statement said.
