Despite the 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 pilgrims.
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 tabs 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 `12,000 crore in 2013.
“The yatra bookings have dropped 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 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.
“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,” said Panwar.