Thursday, 13 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushark Singh Dhami has directed officials to expedite action for formation of the Char Dham Yatra management authority. He also directed officials to prepare an action plan on how to increase the carrying capacity of Yamunotri Dham. Chairing a meeting at the CM residence on Wednesday, Dhami said that the purview of the Char Dham Yatra management authority will not be limited to only the Char Dham but will include the management of all pilgrimages in the State. The main purpose behind the formation of this authority is to have a body which will efficiently undertake the responsibilities for management and preparation of all religious and general tourism activities in the State. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is responsible for the rising number of visitors in the State. The Char Dham Yatra this year has shown an almost double rise in the number of people visiting Gangotri and Yamunotri. Considering this, the carrying capacity of Yamunotri should be increased and a concrete action plan should be prepared for this purpose, he said.
The CM further told the officials that the Char Dham Yatra is mainly undertaken from Rishikesh at present but the large number of visitors arriving in this town results in congestion. Considering this, he told officials to consider how the pilgrimage can also be undertaken from Kotdwar. The CM also directed officials to expedite the process for ropeway projects for Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib and Yamunotri.
Dhami also said that the Asian Development Bank has approved a Rs 1,200 crore project for infrastructural related development to boost tourism in Tehri dam reservoir and its neighbouring areas. The tender process for this should be expedited, he told the officials. He said that this project will rapidly boost tourism in areas around the Tehri dam reservoir which in turn will further enhance the value of the reservoir as a tourist attraction.
