Uttarakhand: Situation improved somewhat due to CM’s strictness, devotees are able to reach Gangotri from Uttarkashi in 5-5 hours instead of 12 to 15 hours
Following the strictness and constant monitoring of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the Chardham Yatra arrangements, the police administration in Uttarkashi is on alert mode. Its positive effect was seen on the Gangotri-Yamunotri Yatra on Sunday and the traffic system on the highways connecting both the Dhams was back on track to some extent.
Earlier, pilgrims were taking 12 to 15 hours to reach Gangotri from Uttarkashi and 10 to 12 hours to reach Jankichatti (Yamunotri) from Barkot. Now this journey is being completed in four to five hours. The distance from Uttarkashi to Gangotri is 105 km, while the distance from Barkot to Jankichatti is about 55 km. On normal days, it takes maximum three and two hours to cover this distance by vehicle.
Stopping the pilgrims coming without registration in Rishikesh and Haridwar has also reduced the pressure on the pilgrimage routes. After the Chief Minister took charge to bring the Yatra to Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham back on track, IG Arun Mohan Joshi reached both the Dhams on Saturday to smooth the traffic system.
At the same time, Deputy District Magistrate Brijesh Kumar Tiwari has been sent to monitor the system in Gangotri area. Whereas, Deputy District Magistrate Barkot Mukesh Chand Ramola and Deputy District Magistrate Dunda Nawazish Khaliq are camping in Jankichatti.
Besides, efforts have also been started to reduce the stoppage of vehicles on both the highways where one-way gate system is implemented. Now one-way gate system is implemented on Yamunotri Highway only in Kharadi, Paligad and Jankichatti.
From morning to afternoon on Sunday, pilgrims going to Yamunotri were stopped at Kharadi and Paligad for only about an hour each. Civic facilities are available for pilgrims in Kharadi. However, the crowd of devotees remains intact on the Yamunotri footpath. Due to the road being very narrow, there is still a traffic jam here. The problem of jam and long waiting on Gangotri Highway has also been resolved to some extent under the one-way gate system.
In the morning, pilgrims have to wait at the Hina Registration Checking Center for only about 30 minutes. From 4 am to 2 pm on Sunday, about 10,000 devotees in more than 1,100 vehicles had reached Gangotri Dham and more than 8,500 devotees in more than 800 vehicles had reached Jankichatti and Kharsali, the last road stop of Yamunotri Dham.
It is not proper to operate vehicles after 9 pm: Semwal
In view of the crowd of pilgrims, traffic has to be operated in Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham even at night. Gangotri Temple Committee Secretary Suresh Semwal has expressed concern regarding this. In view of the safety of the pilgrims, he has suggested that traffic should not be operated on the mountain routes after 9 pm. IG Arun Mohan Joshi had reached Gangotri Dham on Saturday. During the meeting with him, the Secretary of Gangotri Temple Committee said that the pilgrims reaching the Dham late at night are facing inconvenience for stay and food.
Apart from this, the safety of the devotees is also in danger due to traveling at night. He suggested to the IG that traffic should not be operated after 9 pm. Traffic operation at night is also not good due to the uneven geography of the mountains. Also said that the pilgrims should be kept there in the town where they reach around nine o’clock. He told that at present the pilgrims have to have darshan till 12 o’clock in the night. The district administration and government should take immediate cognizance of this.
