Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that preparations for the Char Dham Yatra are almost complete. He also confirmed that there will be no limit on the number of devotees allowed to take part in the pilgrimage.

He shared that the main focus this time is on managing traffic, providing clean drinking water, and ensuring enough parking space. “Our preparations are nearly done. We are especially focusing on 3-4 key things: traffic, clean drinking water, and parking. This time, the Yatra route has been divided into 10 km sectors. Our officials will cover each sector on two-wheelers and stay connected using walkie-talkies. These sectors have also been grouped into zones and super zones for better management,” Mr Pandey told ANI.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has clearly instructed that no pilgrim should face any trouble during the Char Dham Yatra. So far, about 13.5 lakh people have registered online, and there is no limit on the number of devotees allowed this year.

The administration is also working to make the Yatra more eco-friendly and clean. "Prime Minister Modi has given the tagline 'Green Yatra' for this year's pilgrimage," said Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. "We are urging pilgrims and officials to keep the route clean and respect the religious value of the Dhams. People are being encouraged to avoid using items that harm the environment, and eco-friendly alternatives are being provided."

Mr Pandey also said that as soon as last year’s Yatra ended, the Chief Minister ordered officials to start preparing for this year’s. “The Chief Minister has already held 2–3 meetings and takes daily updates on the progress. I also had a meeting at the Yatra office in Rishikesh in February, and on April 5, all DMs, SPs, and department heads from the Garhwal division attended a key meeting,” he added.

As part of the early preparations, a 30-member advance team from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has reached Badrinath Dham to begin restoration work and infrastructure setup before the Yatra starts, an official statement said.

The doors of Badrinath Dham will open on 4th May. The state government is actively preparing for the Char Dham Yatra, and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) is also making continuous arrangements.

The weather in Badrinath Dham is currently clear, though some snow is still visible in a few areas and on nearby hills.

The Char Dham Yatra includes visits to four holy places in Uttarakhand: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Every year, lakhs of devotees take part in this pilgrimage. The Yatra usually begins in April or May, depending on the weather, and continues till November.

 

You might also be interested in - 10 days in, Uttarakhand’s UCC portal registers just one live-in relationship