Hardly 10 days are left for reopening of the portals of Badrinath shrine, but the condition of the national highway to Badrinath is still not as desired. The administration has for the time being barred long and tall bodied vehicles from outside Uttarakhand from plying on this route.
The portals of the Badrinath shrine will be reopened to the public for six months on May 5. The State Government and local administration claim to be undertaking all necessary measures for ensuring a smooth Yatra. However, the condition of the national highway here is sensitive. The disaster experienced in June last year had completely destroyed the stretch of the highway from lambagad to Venakuli. At present, the Border Roads Organisation has arranged an alternative route which is also in a sensitive condition. Even light rain is making this road unfit for traffic. Considering this, it is feared that it will become tough for traffic to use this route once rains start.
On being asked about the arrangements for the Badrinath Yatra, the Chamoli district magistrate M Murugeshan said that considering the condition of the road, permission cannot be granted to long and tall-bodied vehicles from outside Uttarakhand to ply on this route to Badrinath as the route to this shrine has become narrow at various points.Such narrow stretches might make it very difficult for long and tall-bodied vehicles to ply on this route at present. However, the local buses will be allowed to ply on this route. The DM further said that various department concerned have been directed to ensure proper arrangements at Badrinath before the resumption of Yatra to prevent inconvenience to the pilgrims.