VIPs and VVIPs should not travel for the first 15 days, Chief Secretary sent a letter to all the states
The countdown for Chardham Yatra has started. Amidst the possibility of more than 10 lakh pilgrims arriving in the first 15 days, the government has requested VIPs and VVIPs of all states not to come for darshan. On the other hand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also busy monitoring the yatra preparations amidst election busyness.
Chief Secretary Radha Raturi reviewed the Chardham Yatra preparations in a meeting with BKTC President Ajendra Ajay and Secretary Tourism Sachin Kurve on Wednesday. After this a letter was sent to all the states. It has been said that more than 10 lakh pilgrims are likely to reach Charon Dham between May 10 and 25. The entire government machinery is busy preparing for this. Therefore, all the states have been requested not to come for darshan of their VIPs or VVIPs during this period of 15 days.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister, a letter to this effect has been sent by the Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand Government, to the Chief Secretaries of all the states. Especially in Kedarnath, efforts are being made to postpone VVIP darshan so that other pilgrims do not have to face any kind of problems. The Registrar of the High Court is also being informed in this regard. Commissioner Pandey said that to prevent any kind of black marketing and fraud in heli services, this time ticket booking is being done only through the official website of IRCTC.
1495 vehicles will be parked at 20 places, monitoring through app
Garhwal Commissioner Pandey said that this time the facilities for the devotees have been increased in every way as compared to last year. Last year, while a total of nine parking lots were being operated in Kedarnath, that time parking arrangements have been made at a total of 20 places. Parking facility for 1495 vehicles will be available here. For the first time, an app has been created for monitoring vehicles.
700 sanitation workers will be deployed
Better arrangements have also been made regarding cleanliness on the yatra route. While last year 617 sanitation workers were deployed for this work, this time a total of 700 workers have been deployed for this duty. For the first time, four new high-tech modular toilets and four new mobile modular toilets have been arranged in the Yatra route. Apart from this, a road sweeping machine will also be deployed for cleaning work.
Horses and mules will remain under surveillance
This time, all the 4000 horses and mules running on the Yatra route will also be monitored from the administration level. Till last year, monitoring work was done partially. For the first time, identity cards will be issued for hawkers. Apart from this, along with health checkup, a waste treatment plant of 30 ton capacity has been built in Sonprayag and arrangements for dumping ground have been made. This time, arrangements are also being made to operate the roster system. This time a total of 15 water fountains will be operated 24 hours for horses and mules. Apart from this, two dormitories with a capacity of 197 people have been arranged for those traveling with horses and mules.
Road widening from Sonprayag to Gaurikund
The road from Sonprayag to Gaurikund has been improved even more than last year. The road has been widened by 5 to 8 meters at most places.
Five ambulances, three golf carts deployed
For the first time, along with five ambulances, three golf carts are being deployed under the health facilities. Garhwal Commissioner said that this is being done for the first time that without disturbing the local arrangements, arrangements for all the doctors are being made apart from this. So that the local residents do not have to face problems in terms of health facilities. At the same time, health check-up centers will be operated at about 18 places. He said that before coming on the journey, people should come on the journey only after their health checkup.
