Dehradun: Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj has announced that all essential preparations for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra have been completed. He said that various departments, including the local administration and the Tourism Department, are actively involved in ensuring a smooth and safe pilgrimage experience.
The Char Dham Yatra will officially commence on April 30 with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams. Kedarnath will open on May 2, followed by Badrinath on May 4, and Hemkund Sahib on May 25.
To prevent inconvenience for pilgrims, particularly during helicopter bookings, officials have been directed to take strict action against the black marketing of tickets and unauthorised parking charges along the yatra routes.
Financial Allocations & Infrastructure
Maharaj stated that financial allocations have been made to support infrastructure and management needs. A total of Rs 12.75 crore has been released so far, including:
Rs 25 lakh to the Garhwal Commissioner
Rs 1 crore each to the District Magistrates of Haridwar, Tehri, and Dehradun
Rs 50 lakh to the Pauri DM
Rs 3 crore each to the DMs of Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag
Sanitation & Toilet Facilities
To ensure hygiene during the pilgrimage, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, based in Dehradun, has been contracted for the maintenance of steel-frame toilets. Forty percent of the allocated Rs 782.228 lakh has already been disbursed.
A total of 1,584 toilet seats will be operational at 147 locations, including:
82 seats along the Gangotri and Yamunotri routes
551 seats at various points in Rudraprayag
60 seats on the Chamoli route
20 seats on the Hemkund Sahib route
Safety & Monitoring Measures
A Tourist Safety Management System has been established with facilities for both online and offline registration through a mobile app and Aadhaar verification. Offline registration centers are active in Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Herbertpur.
Additionally, a 24×7 State Control Room has been set up at the headquarters of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) in Dehradun. A 15-line tourism helpline is operational at 0135-1364, with further assistance available via 0135-2552627 and 0135-2559898.
Transport Arrangements
To manage the expected influx of pilgrims, the Transport Department in coordination with the Joint Rotation Centre, Rishikesh, has arranged:
2,000 buses in Rishikesh
600 buses in Haridwar
100 buses in Herbertpur
The Aadhaar-based registration for pilgrims began on March 20, and a token and slot system will be used to streamline darshan schedules and minimize waiting times.
