Char Dham Yatra to start from 30th April.
DEHRADUN: This time the government has given relief to lakhs of passengers coming on Chardham Yatra. The demand of bus companies and transporters to increase the fare of buses and taxis has been rejected by the state government and transport department. Bus companies and transporters had demanded an increase of 10 to 20 percent in the fare, citing increase in diesel, insurance and expenses. In response to which the Transport Department said that the fare was fixed by the STF in the year 2022 keeping in mind all the aspects. Therefore, increase in fare is not possible right now. With this it became clear that this year the fare of bus and taxi will not be increased in Chardham.
It may be recalled that the Chardham Yatra is starting with the opening of the doors of Gangotri-Yamunotri Dham on “Akshay Tritya” i.e, 30 April.
CM Dhami held a review meeting regarding the preparations for the Chardham Yatra
“All the arrangements related to the journey should be completed before the Chardham Yatra starts. In view of the journey, proper arrangements should be made for road, drinking water, electricity, health facilities. During the Chardham Yatra period, proper arrangements should be made for traffic management and parking on the travel routes. The registration system for the devotees should be further strengthened. A campaign for Green Chardham Yatra should be started.”
These instructions were given by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to the officials during the meeting on the preparations for the upcoming Chardham Yatra at the Secretariat on Monday, 10 March.
The Chief Minister said that the country and the world keep an eye on the Chardham Yatra of Uttarakhand. Work should be done at every level to make the journey smooth and safe. This journey is the lifeline of the state and a big medium of economy. Keeping in mind the challenges faced in last year’s Yatra, instructions were given to the officials to work on the future plan. It should be ensured that the devotees do not face unnecessary trouble. Proper arrangements for health screening test should be made for the devotees on the Chardham Yatra routes. Along with this, the Animal Husbandry Department should also conduct health check-up of horses and mules on time. Also, adequate arrangements of warm water and fodder should be available for horses and mules on the Yatra route. Before the start of the Yatra, the widening of narrow routes and the places where road construction work is going on should be completed. It should be ensured that the devotees do not have to stop unnecessarily on the Yatra routes. Even if they have to be stopped from the point of view of traffic management, all basic facilities should be provided to them.
CM Dhami directed that the Vigilance should be vigilantly monitored to stop the black marketing of helicopter tickets and strict action should be taken against those concerned. Along with complete arrangements of toilets on the Yatra routes, adequate arrangements of pink toilets should also be made. Special attention should be paid to cleanliness on the Yatra routes. Swachhata Abhiyan should also be run by public representatives and officials.
The Chief Minister directed that the departmental secretary and senior police officers should conduct a field inspection of the Chardham Yatra arrangements in the month of March. Along with starting the Green Chardham Yatra in the state, he also instructed to promote single-use plastic on a wide scale for the Chardham Yatra. Adequate arrangements should be made for alternative routes for the Chardham Yatra. Mobile connectivity, necessary resources at sensitive places and drone monitoring should be arranged on the Chardham Yatra route. He said that a helpline number should also be issued in view of the Chardham Yatra. The real-time weather update system should be strengthened for the convenience of the devotees. On this occasion, the CM took information about various preparations related to the Yatra route from the DMs of the districts connected to the Yatra route.
Dhami said that a master plan should be prepared for the winter travel sites of the state. The areas around them should also be developed. Work should also be done on the master plan of Gangotri and Yamunotri. Instructions were also given to prepare from now for the Nanda Raj Jat to be held in 2026 and the Kumbh of 2027. The Chief Minister asked all the IAS, IPS and PCS officers to adopt the tehsil, police station, block or other areas of the state from where they have started their job and contribute to their development. Solve public problems by staying overnight in these areas where they started their job. Also inspect the arrangements by visiting government schools, hospitals and other institutions.
On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Minister of State Vishwas Dabur, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretaries, Senior Police Officers and Heads of various departments and District Magistrates associated with Chardham Yatra through virtual medium were present.
