With about a week left for the start of this year’s Char Dham Yatra, those planning to visit Badrinath may have to face some inconvenience in case slide zones like lambagad are activated by the rains.
With the imminent resumption of the Char Dham Yatra in a few days, the portals of the Badrinath temple are slated to be reopened to the public on May 11. The authorities state that among the various measures undertaken so far, steps have also been taken towards ensuring that the pilgrimage is not disrupted due to road block at the identified vulnerable zones. An excavator each will be stationed full time at points along the route in order to facilitate swift removal of debris for reopening road blocked to traffic by debris in case of landslides or rockfalls. It is pertinent to mention here that the June 2013 disaster experienced in Uttarakhand had caused damage to various stretches of the Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58. The road repair and reconstruction works where needed, were undertaken soon after the disaster but some of the works have not been completed yet at various points of this national highway to Badrinath. locals point out that though the authorities have constructed roads, there are various issues like the danger points which have developed at some places with the necessary improvements yet to be made in its condition. The laying of tar on the stretch of the national highway from lambagad to Badrinath has not yet been done which may cause inconvenience to travelers in coming days.
The local residents further point out that the climatic conditions this year yet have not been inimical nor has there been considerable snowfall which could have made works harder to undertake.
Despite this, the authorities have not yet been able to ensure necessary action to facilitate the convenient and secure journey being promised by the State authorities to pilgrims and tourists.
Questions are being raised about the work efficiency of the authorities concerned considering the incomplete status of works on NH 58 at a time when the Badrinath pilgrimage is set to resume in a few days.
Though various points have been declared as danger zones by the authorities on this highway there are some instances wherein the necessary work has not been executed on such declared danger zones.
The Chamoli district magistrate Vinod Kumar Suman said that JCBs will remain at identified points to ensure swift clearing of debris so that the pilgrimage is not disrupted by road blocks.
Observers point out that even though about three years have passed since the 2013 disaster, the condition of the Yatra circuit roads still remains to be improved at various locations, which could exacerbate inconvenience to travelers during the rains.