Despite the witnessed drastic reduction in Char Dham Yatra bookings due to last year’s disaster, the State Government has claimed that it is fully prepared for the Char Dham Yatra which is slated to begin from May 2.
The authorities expected traffic congestion and landslides but stressed that necessary measures have been taken to minimise inconvenience to the pilgrims while facilitating a secure and convenient pilgrimage.
Addressing the media here on Monday, Tourism Secretary Umakant Panwar said that with 50 lakhs to one crore people expected to undertake the Char Dham Yatra this year, biometric registration of pilgrims will be facilitated and each pilgrim will receive a photo identity card which will also help keep a tab on the last known locations of the card holders.
Panwar said that the 2013 disaster has eroded public confidence, with the PHD Chamber of Commerce estimating that the disaster caused a business loss of Rs 12,000 crore in 2013.
“The yatra bookings have dropped down substantially as we do not have any magic pill to restore public confidence swiftly. We want to tell the public that all efforts have been made to ensure a safe and proper Yatra,” he said, while adding that Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines will reopen on May 2, Kedarnath on May 4, Badrinath on May 5 and Hemkund Sahib on May 25.
He informed that a Yatra control room has been established at the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board office in Dehradun which will operate from 7 am to 9 pm providing varied information, answering all queries raised by those wanting to undertake the Yatra and noting down their suggestions at the phone number 0135-2559898.
“This year we will facilitate the biometric registration of pilgrims which will begin even before they enter Uttarakhand. They will be issued photo identity cards which will also help ascertain their last known location if needed. We are also planning to provide necessary information like weather forecast and route condition to registered pilgrims through SMS on their mobile phones though this system is under process at present. While we plan to provide free Yatra for Uttarakhand residents aged above 65 years this year through a joint initiative of the Tourism and Transport departments, we also plan to provide subsidised air travel for stranded pilgrims in case of landslide disrupting the route to Kedarnath,” said Panwar.
He admitted that considering the condition of roads damaged in last year’s disaster, travelling on the Yatra route will not be a smooth journey with traffic jams and landslides in slide zones being foreseen by the authorities. However, temporary shelters have been made in places for pilgrims in case of contingency and mobile health units will be posted every 15-20 km along the Yatra route apart from other measures to regulate the pilgrimage. He also said that orders have been issued to complete repair and other works on the Yatra circuit by April 30 with all district magistrates concerned assuring that the Yatra will resume at the time planned.