my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 31 Dec: Chief Secretary (CS) Anand Bardhan convened a meeting with various departments and District Magistrates at the Secretariat here today to review the Kedarnath reconstruction and Badrinath Master Plan. The Chief Secretary stressed that, to ensure the Char Dham Yatra is conducted in a smooth and organised manner, it is vital to identify and resolve practical difficulties encountered on the travel routes and during darshan at Kedarnath and Badrinath.
On this occasion, Bardhan also took stock of the progress of works under the Kedarnath Reconstruction and Badrinath Master Plan. Emphasising that pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra should carry back a pleasant experience from the beginning of their journey until their return, he directed that preparations must be made to meet this standard. He instructed that while issuing darshan tokens to devotees, information regarding the current token number being served in the temple must be displayed on screens. He added that this arrangement should be mandatorily ensured for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra next year. He further directed that pilgrims must be informed of the estimated waiting time for darshan at the time of receiving their tokens. He also stressed that the availability of golf carts and All-Terrain Vehicles must be ensured for those in wheelchairs and pilgrims with mobility issues.
The CS also ordered the installation of signage and QR code-based information boards at various locations to ensure that devotees receive necessary and appropriate information during the pilgrimage. He stated that a certified guide system should be made available for all tourist destinations across the state and directed the Tourism Department to prepare an action plan for a guide training programme.
He noted that once the Kedarnath Ropeway becomes operational, there is a high probability of excessive pressure from devotees at the Kedarnath Temple complex, Gaurikund, and Sonprayag, and therefore adequate preparations must be ensured well in advance. He instructed the officials to explore possibilities for expanding the area of the Kedarnath Temple precinct and increasing the capacity for parking and other facilities at Gaurikund and Sonprayag.
Among those present at the meeting were Secretary V Shanmugam, Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, District Magistrate Rudraprayag Pratik Jain and DM Chamoli Gaurav Kumar through video conferencing, along with other senior officers.
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