Thursday, 21 April 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The Transport department has extended the validity of green cards for Char Dham Yatra from two months to seven months this year. The department has also formed a committee to increase the fares of the vehicles that operate during the Yatra. These decisions were taken in the meeting of the department on Wednesday chaired by the Transport minister Chandan Ram Das who reviewed the preparation for Yatra and addressed the issues of transporters associated with it. He said that the department has validated green cards for seven months till November this year which used to be issued for only two months during Char Dham Yatra. “We have taken this decision considering the welfare of pilgrims and transport operators and if required, the department will extend the green card validity to a year too,” added Das.
He said that the representatives of many transport operators unions have been demanding to increase the fares considering the hiked prices of fuels and other factors in the past few months. Considering this, he said, the department has formed a committee that will present its report on the matter while considering all aspects of transporters and passengers. The report will be presented at the state administration level for consideration. He said that on the appeals of transport operators, he has directed the officials to make the installation of global positioning system (GPS) mandatory in only newly registered public transport vehicles and goods carrying vehicles in the state. He said that the department is also working on keeping details of the pilgrims arriving in the Yatra this year. He said that since Devasthanam Board is no more active this year, tourism and transport departments will work in coordination with each other to keep a record of the pilgrims’ details including their date of arrival, departure and period of staying in the state. The transport minister said that the department is making all efforts to give the best experience to the pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra and it has made all necessary arrangements to ensure the same.
