Srinagar: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is undertaking the development of Disaster Management and Yatri Niwas complexes at four strategic locations in Jammu & Kashmir: Baltal, Nunwan, Bijbehara, and Sidhra, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
These facilities will be managed by the Shri AmarnathJi Shrine Board under the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and are designed to provide safe lodging, sanitation, and emergency support for the annual Amarnath Yatra, which attracts over five lakh pilgrims each year. The infrastructure will also serve the local population throughout the year. The Baltal Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management Complex, covering 6,315 square meters, is fully operational and features a Yatri Niwas, VIP guest house, security infrastructure, and disaster-response facilities. This complex is set to be formally inaugurated on July 4, 2025, by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, alongside ONGC Chairman and CEO Arun Kumar Singh. Construction is currently underway at the Nunwan (8,500 sq. m) and Bijbehara (7,640 sq. m) sites, with both expected to be completed by September 2025. The Sidhra complex in Jammu, which will serve as a crucial hub for boarding, emergency management, and logistical coordination, is projected for completion by September 2026. In addition, ONGC has established permanent 100-bed hospitals at Baltal (Ganderbal) and Chandanwari (Anantnag) in 2024, in partnership with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. These hospitals, which include intensive care units and staff accommodations, replace previous temporary medical camps and will function as year-round Primary Health Centres for both pilgrims and local residents.
