PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered officials to complete all arrangements for the Char Dham Yatra before one week of the commencement of Char Dham Yatra slated to begin on April 30 with the reopening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham.
He said that parking arrangements along the Yatra routes must be established in areas with nearby access to hotels, dharamshalas, homestays and other essential services. He also asked for improvements to the slot management system for temple visits along with the installation of adequate CCTV cameras at sensitive locations and real-time monitoring in high-traffic areas. He issued these instructions during a traffic management meeting at the secretariat.
He said that police should work with a clear and effective plan to handle traffic-related challenges and prevent a repeat of last year’s issues. Real-time updates from congested points should be shared through social media and other communication platforms. Official social media handles of the police and administration will regularly provide updates on traffic conditions and weather. Information on parking locations will be made accessible to pilgrims through Google Maps, he said.
Dhami also appealed to all pilgrims to visit the Char Dham only after completing registration, which is required to ensure safety and convenience. He said that this year, the system will allow for 60 per cent online and 40 per cent offline registrations. The government will maintain coordination with all stakeholders involved in the Yatra and consider their feedback.
Information on government preparations will also be shared with stakeholders. The director general of police Deepam Seth presented a detailed overview of the preparations to the CM. He stated that approximately 48 lakh pilgrims undertook the Yatra last year. For the current season, 50 police stations, 79 reporting police posts, 5,850 personnel and 38 seasonal posts will be deployed. Three traffic plans have been developed and will be implemented based on traffic volume and congestion levels. A Char Dham control room has been established under the supervision of the IG, Garhwal Range, with SP Traffic Dehradun Lokjeet Singh as its in-charge. A Char Dham cell will also be set up at police headquarters under the IG Crime and Law and Order to monitor and control the Yatra operations. The entire route has been divided into 15 super zones, 41 zones and 137 sectors.
A separate traffic plan has also been prepared for long weekends, he said. Seth further informed that the Police department has identified 54 bottlenecks, 198 accident-prone locations, 49 black spots and 66 landslide-prone areas. Last year, 113 parking sites were designated with space for 33,295 small vehicles and 3,554 large vehicles. This year, 17 additional parking sites have been identified, increasing the total to 130 sites with a combined capacity of 43,416 small vehicles and 7,855 large vehicles, as per the DGP.
