Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has said the registration for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage would begin from 10th May.

“The process of Amarnath yatra registration for this year in Jammu and Kashmir shall commence on 10th May, 2011,” Chief Executive Officer of SASB, R K Goyal said on Monday.

Registration of the pilgrims will commence from counters established in 121 designated branches of the Jammu and Kashmir bank, 24 branches of the Yes Bank and 4 district cooperative banks, Goyal said.

With the curtailment in the annual Amarnath yatra by 15 days, the shrine board in its meeting held on 18th February, this year decided that pilgrimage shall commence simultaneously, along both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes on 29th June and culminate on 13th August.

The SASB has succeeded, this year to increase the number of registration counters from 121 in 2010 to 149 this year by securing support from other banks in various states, he said, adding the counters in the state of Bihar shall remain open from 3 pm to 6 pm on all weekdays and 1 pm to 4 pm on all Saturdays during the period of registration, upto 10th August.

The registration form can be collected from any of the designated branches of the banks or downloaded from SASB’s official website, he said.

Registration will be done through a yatra permit which will be issued on the submission of the form, along with the payment of handling charges of Rs 15 per pilgrim, Goyal said.

He also said every registered pilgrim has been provided, an accidental insurance cover of Rs one lakh at the cost of the shrine board.