Taxi drivers ferrying pilgrims from Joshimath to Badrinath are charging exorbitant fare from the commuters apparently to make up for the loss suffered in business due to the disruption of the pilgrimage due to the disaster in June. However, the administration has remained apathetic towards this problem.
After the disaster in June, the use of vehicles for the pilgrimage to Badrinath was resumed on September 30 after a gap of about three months.
In the past the taxi drivers used to charge Rs80 per head from Joshimath to Badrinath but after the disaster, this fare has been increased to Rs100 per head. As buses are still not plying on the route from here to Badrinath, most pilgrims have no other option but to travel by taxi. After the peak daytime hours, only a couple of taxis remain in Badrinath and the drivers of such taxis charge exorbitant fares from people wanting to travel from Badrinath to Joshimath. In case the number of commuters is a taxi is less the drivers talk of charging double fare.
While the State government has publicised the resumption of the Char Dham Yatra and invited devotees from India and abroad to visit these shrines and other destinations in Uttarakhand, the authorities have remained apathetic to the overcharging by taxi drivers.
The district regional transport office too appears to be unconcerned about the anomalies in the taxi service in the region.