Friday, 17 MAY 2024 | PNS | UTTARKASHI
Secretary to the chief minister, R Meenakshi Sundaram said that steps will be taken for preparing a masterplan for Yamunotri and executing it for development of various facilities in the area.He said this during his visit to the Yamunotri area where he check the Yatra arrangements and interacted with various stakeholders. In order to control crowding in the Char Dham, people without registration will not be allowed to travel ahead and large buses will be discouraged to prevent traffic jams on the Yatra routes, he said.
Sundaram has been in Uttarkashi since Wednesday to check the Yatra arrangements. On Thursday, Sundaram, district magistrate Meherban Singh Bisht and superintendent of police Arpan Yaduvanshi undertook an aerial survey of Yamunotri and nearby Yatra routes along with inspecting the arrangements at Kharsali and Janakichatti. Interacting with temple committee office bearers, Teerth Purohits, local public representatives and those involved in the pilgrimage, Sundaram sought their feedback and discussed the development of Yamunotri area. He said that a masterplan will be prepared and executed for Yamunotri to improve transportation and infrastructure in the area. Work will be expedited for construction of an alternative bridle path to Yamunotri temple and construction of the ropeway. Sundaram said that plans for making a helipad and developing other facilities are also being prepared for Yamunotri. The completion of these projects in some years will enhance the carrying capacity of the Dham and enable more pilgrims to visit. He further said that the forest land clearance for widening the road from Paligad to Janakichatti is expected to be resolved soon and efforts will be made to complete the road widening within the next two to three years. Stating that the movement of large buses is causing traffic jams on narrow roads, he said that attempts will be made to prevent such buses from operating in the Yatra from September-October. If this attempt is successful, fully prohibiting large vehicles will be considered from next year, Sundaram said.
