ONGC Improves Infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir to Assist Pilgrims and Communities

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is enhancing public infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir through the development of Disaster Management and Yatri Niwas complexes at four significant locations: Baltal, Nunwan, Bijbehara, and Sidhra. These initiatives are part of ONGC’s corporate social responsibility programme and will be managed by the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board under the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

These facilities aim to provide safe accommodation, sanitation, and emergency support for those undertaking the Amarnath Yatra, which attracts over 500,000 pilgrims annually. The new infrastructure will also benefit local communities throughout the year.

The Baltal Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management Complex, covering 6,315 sq m, is now fully operational. It includes a Yatri Niwas, VIP guest house, security infrastructure, and disaster response facilities. The formal opening will be attended by the Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on July 4, 2025, with ONGC Chairman and CEO Shri Arun Kumar Singh present.

Construction work is advancing at Nunwan (8,500 sq m) and Bijbehara (7,640 sq m), with both expected to be completed by September 2025. The Sidhra complex in Jammu, designed to serve as a key hub for boarding, emergency management, and logistical coordination, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.

In 2024, ONGC also established permanent 100-bed hospitals at Baltal (Ganderbal) and Chandanwari (Anantnag), in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir government. These hospitals, equipped with ICUs and staff accommodation, replace previous temporary medical camps and now function as year-round Primary Health Centres serving both pilgrims and local residents.