More than 500 AI-enabled cameras will scan the 12-km Katra-to-shrine route during the upcoming Shardiya Navratra festival. They will use facial recognition and automated alerts to flag suspicious individuals and unattended baggage. The system feeds directly into the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) for real-time crowd management.
Sachin Kumar Vaishya, CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, chaired a high-level security review at the board's Central Office. He emphasized that possession of a valid RFID card is now non-negotiable for every pilgrim. Additional handheld scanners and manpower will be stationed at critical checkpoints including Banganga, Adhkuwari, Himkoti, and Bhawan.
Security operations run alongside disaster preparedness measures. The state disaster response force (SDRF) will coordinate with the shrine board on mock drills and firefighting. Verification of pithoo and pony operators is being tightened to crack down on impersonation and ensure only registered providers operate on the route.
Mukund Tibrewal, SSP Reasi, outlined the traffic and crowd management plans alongside the CRPF commandant. Special checkpoints stand at entry points, with Quick Response Teams (QRTs) deployed at strategic intervals. The nine-day festival is slated to begin on October 11.