The private buses and taxi operators are enthused by the response of the pilgrims for Char Dham Yatra. The yatra last year was a low key affair as very few people turned out for the yatra as wounds of disaster of 2013 were still fresh in the minds of yatris. President of Tehri Garhwal Motor Owners Corporation (TGMOC), an association of private bus owners of Tehri Garhwal district, Vijay Pal Dhanai appeared enthusiastic when asked about the status of the enquiries for Char Dham Yatra. He informed that 20 buses of TGMOC have departed for yatra with pilgrims. Dhanai said that the pilgrims have done advance booking of 70 buses for yatra of this season.
He said that inquires for yatra have doubled than last year. Sentiments of Dhanai were echoed by the station superintendent of Garhwal Motor Owners Corporation owners Union limited (GMOUltd), S S Chaudhary said that the initial response of the pilgrims suggest that the Yatra would be a success this year. He informed that nine buses of Yatris for Badrinath departed on April 22. Chaudhary said 400 buses of the GMOUltd are at the service of the pilgrims. He hoped that that weather would not be a deterrent this year. The private taxi operators are also happy with the response. Manish Sharma, owner of Dinisha tours and travel, informed that there is 60-70 per cent rise in enquiries this year.