Chief Secretary Reviews Preparations for Kanwar Yatra 2026, Directs Departments to Ensure Smooth and Safe Pilgrimage
Dehradun:
The Uttarakhand Government has intensified preparations for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra 2026 to ensure a safe, well-organized, and pilgrim-friendly event. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed the preparedness of all concerned departments, District Magistrates, and Senior Superintendents of Police from districts along the Kanwar route. He directed all departments to complete the required arrangements well before the commencement of the pilgrimage.
The Chief Secretary said that comprehensive traffic management, route planning, crowd control, security, and public convenience measures must be put in place for the Kanwar Mela, which will be held from July 30 to August 11, 2026. He emphasized that the ‘Panchak period’ from July 31 to August 4 is expected to witness an exceptionally large influx of devotees, requiring enhanced deployment of personnel and additional arrangements for crowd management.
Directing officials to ensure seamless facilities for devotees, the Chief Secretary instructed that adequate drinking water, mobile toilets, rest areas, and sanitation facilities be provided along Kanwar tracks and at major halting points. He also asked urban local bodies and concerned departments to maintain regular garbage collection, waste transportation, anti-larval spraying, fogging operations, and proper street lighting throughout the pilgrimage route.
To ensure prompt healthcare services during the pilgrimage, the Chief Secretary directed the Health Department to establish temporary sector hospitals, first-aid centres, Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, bike ambulances, and emergency medical teams at strategic locations along the Kanwar route. He stressed that emergency medical assistance should be readily available to pilgrims at all times.
Considering the heavy vehicular movement expected during the Kanwar Mela, the Chief Secretary instructed officials to complete the repair and expansion of parking facilities in Haridwar at the earliest. He also directed that road improvement works, barricading, cleanliness drives, and maintenance of National Highways and major pilgrimage routes be completed before the yatra begins.
The Chief Secretary instructed UPCL to conduct a comprehensive power supply audit along the pilgrimage route and prepare a long-term plan for permanent electrification of important stretches.
He also directed the Food Safety Department to constitute dedicated inspection teams for regular checks and sampling of food items being served or sold at temporary and permanent food stalls, religious community kitchens (Bhandaras), hotels, restaurants, roadside eateries, dairy vendors, and food supply vehicles to ensure food quality and public health safety.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that maintaining law and order during the Kanwar Mela would remain a top priority. He instructed the Police and district administrations to take all necessary security measures and organize an interstate coordination meeting with neighbouring states at the earliest to ensure smooth traffic regulation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated management of the pilgrimage.
The meeting was attended by Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli, Nitesh Kumar Jha, Vinod Kumar Suman, and Dheeraj Garbyal, Additional Secretary Reena Joshi, Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop, District Magistrate of Haridwar Mayur Dixit, District Magistrate of Dehradun Dr. Ashish Chauhan, District Magistrate of Pauri Swati S. Bhadauria, District Magistrate of Tehri Neetika Khandelwal, along with Senior Superintendents of Police and senior officials from the concerned departments.
