Digital Tracking, Helpline, Medical and Forest Safety Among Top Priorities
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to expedite preparations for the historic Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra, scheduled to take place in 2026. Calling the pilgrimage a profound symbol of Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage and spiritual tradition, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for a digital and infrastructural overhaul to ensure the safety and comfort of devotees.
Chairing a high-level virtual meeting on Tuesday to review the Yatra’s progress, CM Dhami instructed officials to implement a digital tracking system and improve telecommunication services along the Yatra route. These measures aim to enhance real-time monitoring and devotee safety, especially in remote and forested stretches of the journey.
He asked the Chief Secretary to constitute a high-level coordination committee, with a directive that the Chief Secretary review the progress monthly and the Divisional Commissioner on a weekly basis. Departments were urged to work in close coordination, learning from past experiences to improve arrangements for walking routes, rest stops, food, bathing, and accommodation.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need for:
Cleanliness and hygiene at every Yatra halt
Adequate medical facilities, helpline numbers, and deployment of heli ambulances
Proper tent setups and preventive measures against infectious diseases
Strong emphasis on environmental and forest conservation norms, as much of the Yatra passes through ecologically sensitive areas
CM Dhami further instructed that crowd and traffic management be reinforced, and essential amenities such as drinking water, sanitation, and parking facilities be ensured throughout the route. He also directed the strengthening of roads and infrastructure in the districts through which the Yatra passes, ensuring smoother travel for devotees and palanquin (doli) carriers.
The Tourism Department was tasked with widespread promotion of the Yatra and initiating the documentation of local folk songs and folktales associated with Nanda Devi, preserving and highlighting the region’s cultural richness.
In a forward-looking statement, the Chief Minister said that just as the 2026 Nanda Rajjat Yatra will be grandly organized, similar attention and commitment will be given to the Haridwar Kumbh Mela in 2027, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting was attended by several key stakeholders including Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt, MLAs Banshidhar Bhagat, Anil Nautiyal, Bhupal Ram Tamta, Suresh Gadiya, Parvati Das, and Dr. Mohan Singh Bisht. Senior administrative officers present included Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, DGP Deepam Seth, Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli and Sachin Kurve, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, IG Rajiv Swaroop, and Nanda Rajjat Yatra Committee Chairman Dr. Rakesh Kumar, along with officials from relevant districts.
