Sunday, 18 August 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that online registration will continue till the portals of the Char Dham shrines are closed to the public in the first week of September. Those unable to register online will be able to do so on the spot. There will not be any cap on the number of pilgrims. Offline on the spot registration will be facilitated at Haridwar, Rishikesh and the main halts on the routes to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunoti, he said. Dhami said this while meeting representatives of Teerth Purohits, hotel associations, tour operators, transports and traders unions at his official residence on Saturday.
The CM said that lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad visit the Char Dham in Uttarakhand and that ensuring the proper conduct of this pilgrimage is a collective responsibility. Considering the rapid rise in the number of pilgrims, the government is working on developing the infrastructure further. The stakeholders related to the pilgrimage conveyed their various demands to Dhami. He said that the barricading the checking system during Char Dham Yatra will be reviewed and then it will be minimised. Steps will be taken for simplification for making the pilgrimage more convenient. Regarding the issue of requirement of green card/trip card for vehicles from other States, he directed the Transport department to work towards a solution. He said that the preparations for the next Char Dham Yatra will start immediately as this year’s pilgrimage ends. All the district magistrates concerned will hold meetings with the stakeholders.
A high level meeting will be held after this and this will be followed by preparation of the plan for the Char Dham Yatra, the CM said. Dhami said that as part of the Yamunotri masterplan, work will be expedited on the ropeway from Karsali. The monitoring committee has granted clearance for widening of roads from Paligad to Jankichatti and work on this will also be done soon. Work will be expedited on the masterplans being prepared for Gangotri and Yamunotri. The CM said that attempts will also be made to facilitate helicopter service in Yamunotri soon.
Various stakeholders of the Char Dham Yatra gave their suggestions during the meeting. Thanking Dhami for interacting with them, they claimed that a chief minister had discussed various issues related to the pilgrimage in detail for the first time with the various stakeholders.
Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that works will be undertaken considering the suggestions received regarding the Yatra. He said that the feedback received by the government will help it improve the facilities further.
Forest minister Subodh Uniyal stressed on the need for united efforts to ensure an orderly Char Dham Yatra. The government is working on a long term plan to make the pilgrimage more convenient, he added.
