All arrangements made for smooth Yatra: Maharaj PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun Over one lakh people from across India have registered themselves online for the Char Dham Yatra in 11 hours since the registration started. Notably, the annual pilgrimage begins on April 19 on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya with the portal opening of two of the four shrines-Gangotri and Yamunotri. As per information received from the Yatra administration, the registration started at 6 AM on Friday and by 5 PM, 1, 23, 788 devotees had registered. The break-up for the four shrines on the first day of registration are as follows: Kedarnath 42, 311; Badrinath 36, 495; Gangotri 22, 702 and Yamunotri 22, 280. The Yatra administration claimed that the online registration figures on the first day is encouraging, indicating a mammoth pilgrim turnout this year too. Meanwhile, speaking of the elaborate preparations the State government has made for the Yatra, the Religious Affairs minister Satpal Maharaj said that things are in the final stage now. “We have made complete arrangements for online as well as offline registrations. A total of 50 counters have been set up for offline registration, 30 of which are in Rishikesh and 20 in Vikasnagar. All these counters will operate 24 hours a day, ensuring no pilgrims face any difficulties with registration,” he said and added that devotees can register via the weblink: registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in and the mobile app – Tourist Care Uttarakhand. He further informed that over 56 lakh pilgrims had visited the Char Dham in 2025. “To make things smoother this time, we have facilitated registration through Aadhar cards while the foreigners can avail the facility of registration through e-mail IDs. Like last year, registration centres will operate at Yatra Registration Centre and Transit Camp Rishikesh; Registration Centre Rishikul Ground, Haridwar and Registration Centre Vikas Nagar, Dehradun for those who do not have Aadhar cards. Offline registration service at these counters will start from April 17. Adequate accommodation arrangements have been made for the devotees at these registration points,” he added. He further said that adequate arrangements for public toilets and drinking water have been made along the Yatra routes. “There will be medical facilities too,” he said. Besides, a total of 1,800 buses, including 400 reserved ones, will operate for the yatra this time. “A total of 130 buses will depart daily and cover approximately 1,300 routes,” the minister informed.
