Complete arrangements for 2024 Char Dham Yatra & wedding destinations: Maharaj
Thursday, 18 January 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The condition of all the roads should be improved and arrangements for alternate routes should be made before the start of the 2024 Char Dham Yatra. Further, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to develop Uttarakhand as a wedding destination, proper management of roads to these destinations should be ensured, the Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj said.
Chairing a meeting regarding preparations for the 2024 Char Dham Yatra on Wednesday, the minister directed the officials to ensure that all the preparations are completed on time. Maharaj said that he himself will check the arrangements on the Yatra circuit. He said that arrangements for airlifting and air ambulance during emergency and disaster scenarios should be strengthened. Considering the landslide which is prone to occur near Tota Ghati, arrangements should be made to inform travellers near Srinagar about the road blockage during the pilgrimage. Dumping zones should be levelled and used as parking lots, he said.
The Transport officials were directed to inspect the roads while instructions were also issued to enhance skills of the tourist police to swiftly resolve issues of the tourists and pilgrims. A uniform for the tourist police should also be made, Maharaj added. Stating that news of horses and mules being mistreated during the Yatra appears prominently, he said that steps should be taken to prevent this.
The minister also directed the administration of the districts concerned to lay special focus on horses-mules and Dandi-Kandi services and fixing their rates on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath and Janakichatti-Yamunotri bridle paths.
The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee chairman Ajendra Ajay, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board additional CEO Yugal Kishor Pant, Home additional secretary Ridhim Agrawal, PWD secretary Pankaj Pandey and other officials were also present in the meeting.
