Hotel association seeks removal of hill endorsement requirement for drivers from other States
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Uttarakhand Chardham Hotel Association has asked the State government to remove the requirement of the hill endorsement test for commercial vehicle drivers from other states. According to the association, this rule is creating difficulties for drivers coming from outside Uttarakhand for the Char Dham Yatra.
A delegation from the association met with the Tourism secretary at the Secretariat on Friday and submitted suggestions related to the upcoming pilgrimage season. They stated that ensuring a smooth and accessible Char Dham Yatra is a collective responsibility. The association expressed concern that certain policy requirements are causing inconvenience to both pilgrims and hotel operators.
The delegation raised the issue of the current cap on the number of pilgrims allowed for the yatra. They argued that such a restriction is not in place at other religious sites across India and should be removed for Char Dham as well. They also urged the government to eliminate the gate system, barrier system and RTO checkpoints on the pilgrimage routes, stating that these measures are affecting the movement and experience of pilgrims.
The association asked the Tourism secretary to take prompt decisions on these matters and implement necessary changes to address the concerns of those involved in the pilgrimage and hospitality sectors.
