PNS | DEHRADUN
Uttarakhand Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj has instructed officials to expedite the formation of the Uttarakhand Yatra Development Authority. In a departmental meeting held at the Tourism Development Council in Garhi Cantt on Wednesday, Maharaj emphasised swift action on developing remote villages like Byunkhi in Rudraprayag district as tourist villages. He also directed the initiation of plans for thematic circuits such as the Nath Circuit, Pandav Circuit, Vivekananda Circuit and Rabindranath Tagore Circuit. During the meeting, the minister also stressed the urgency of merging the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) to streamline tourism development in the State. He also reviewed the status of the master plan for Mahasu Devta, urging officials to expedite its implementation.
Maharaj also proposed collaborating with the Department of Culture to organise significant events, including the Raghunath Ji Yatra from Tanakpur to Janakpur in Nepal and Shankar Ji’s Baraat from Pashupatinath to Triyuginarayan. He stated that such initiatives can foster cultural harmony and strengthen India-Nepal relations.
The minister also directed the development of the ancient Manadamai Temple in Rudraprayag and called for discussions with the central government to relax stringent provisions imposed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as per which the construction within a 100-metre radius of protected temples is restricted. This is hindering restoration and site development of the temple, as per Maharaj. He also addressed practical issues such as the provision of travel cards for officials on international tours, eliminating the need for carrying cash. Highlighting the challenges faced by visitors at the Kalimath Temple, he suggested modifying steep temple steps to improve accessibility. He also recommended facilities like wheelchairs for elderly and differently-abled devotees to ensure a hassle-free experience.
