Center will now keep its vigil on Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra, Virtual CS gave information to Union Home Secretary

The Central Government is keeping a close watch on the Chardham Yatra arrangements in Uttarakhand. In this series, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla took an important meeting regarding the arrangements for Chardham Yatra. In which Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand Radha Raturi participated virtually. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi shared the information related to the yatra with the Union Home Secretary. At the same time, the Central Government talked about cooperation in Chardham Yatra. During this period many important guidelines were also issued.

Regarding Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra 2024, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi says that ‘all the arrangements for the Yatra are going well. Smooth and safe journey of all the devotees is being ensured. The Union Home Secretary did a video conferencing today to support us. He asked us if we needed any help? If it is then the central government will support and cooperate.

Apart from this, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said, ‘On behalf of the Union Home Secretary, it was also said that additional forces of ITBP, NDRF are here and they can be used for crowd management during the Yatra. Most of the pilgrims in Uttarakhand come from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. In such a situation, we have talked to the Chief Secretaries of those states.

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi further said that ‘Union Home Secretary has also spoken to him. They have been told that the pilgrims should register themselves for the Chardham Yatra only on the date on which they arrive. This will maintain order.’ Apart from this he said that right now the Yatra is going on smoothly. At the same time, he also expressed his views on the restriction of code of conduct in Uttarakhand.

CS Radha Raturi said that elections have been completed in Uttarakhand on 19 April. In such a situation, permission has been taken from the Election Commission. Under which the Election Commission has given exemption to Uttarakhand for all the work related to Chardham, forest fire and disaster management. No work has been stopped due to the code of conduct. A screening committee has been formed here.

During this, it was also made clear that a committee should be formed for the strategy of Char Dham Yatra management in future. Along with this, strict monitoring should also be done regarding travel management on the ground. Radha Raturi told that the 24-hour call center operated by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board is also working. Besides, registration of pilgrims is also being checked at different places.

The Chief Secretary has said that 31 lakh 18 thousand 926 passengers have been registered till May 22. This year, 1,38,537 devotees have visited Yamunotri within 10 days of the start of the Yatra season. This figure is 127% more in the last two years. 1,28,777 devotees visited Gangotri, which is 89% increase in the last 2 years. Similarly, 3 lakh 19 thousand 193 devotees visited Kedarnath Dham. Which is 156% more than the last 2 years. 1,49,656 devotees have also visited Badrinath Dham, which is 27 percent more in the last two years.

The Transport Department has made arrangements for shuttle service on Sonprayag and Gaurikund route. Arrangements for online green card have also been made. So far 23,063 green cards have been issued. Trip cards are being issued to travelers registered on the tourism portal. The police department has opened 56 tourism police centers on the travel routes. 850 CCTVs and 8 drones have been installed to monitor the journey.

20 parking spaces with a capacity of 1495 vehicles have also been created on the yatra route. Sector Magistrate has also been deployed for traffic management on Kedarnath route. Besides, 657 environmental insurgents have also been deployed on the trek road. At the same time, 50 screening kiosks have been installed by the Health Department at 12 main locations. 156 ambulances are deployed on the travel routes. 8 blood banks and two storage units are also available.