Rajeev Sharma :- In a bid to enhance security arrangements and improve pilgrim management ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, the Anantnag Police have launched a new QR-based mobile application, ‘Pehchaan’, aimed at regulating and verifying service providers operating along the pilgrimage route and at major tourist destinations in the district.
According to police officials, the app has been developed to facilitate on-the-spot verification of individuals engaged in providing services to pilgrims and tourists. By creating a database of registered and authenticated service providers, the initiative seeks to distinguish authorised personnel from unregistered individuals and establish a more secure operational framework during the pilgrimage season.
The police said the primary objective of the application is to strengthen the security ecosystem surrounding the yatra and prevent the entry of unauthorised or potentially suspicious elements posing as service providers. The digital platform will maintain records of all verified personnel, thereby enhancing transparency, accountability and trust in services offered to visitors.
Officials believe the initiative will also contribute significantly to crowd management by ensuring that services are delivered in an organised and regulated manner. The move is expected to reduce instances of overcrowding, disputes and complaints related to overcharging along the pilgrimage route.
The ‘Pehchaan’ app is also intended to instil greater confidence among pilgrims and tourists, who will be able to interact only with verified service providers. At the same time, it offers genuine service providers a recognised digital identity and formal validation from the authorities.
The Shri Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28 this year. With thousands of pilgrims expected to undertake the annual pilgrimage, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, in coordination with the police and other agencies, has intensified preparations to ensure a safe, smooth and hassle-free experience for devotees visiting the holy cave shrine.
