my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 6 Mar: A delegation of hotel owners operating along the Char Dham route met BJP state president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt today and submitted a memorandum seeking relaxation in the existing guidelines governing the Char Dham Yatra. The delegation urged the government to reconsider restrictions on the number of pilgrims and the mandatory online and offline registration requirements, which they said were adversely affecting the local economy and livelihoods associated with the pilgrimage.
During the meeting held at Bhatt’s residence in Yamuna Colony, representatives of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Hotel Business Organisation highlighted the economic and cultural significance of the pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. They said the Char Dham Yatra holds immense religious and cultural importance across the world and remains deeply rooted in the faith of millions of devotees. At the same time, they pointed out that the pilgrimage also serves as a major pillar of Uttarakhand’s economy.
The delegation stressed that the state government has presently placed limits on the number of pilgrims visiting the Char Dham shrines through an online and offline registration system. According to them, these restrictions have created difficulties for local residents and stakeholders associated with the pilgrimage economy. They said the curbs were affecting a wide range of people, including traders, hotel owners, tour and travel operators, shopkeepers, taxi drivers, and those involved in traditional services such as horse and mule operations and palanquin carriers.
The hoteliers stated that the Char Dham Yatra has historically been conducted without any such limitations and has continued uninterrupted for centuries. Devotees from across the country and abroad have traditionally undertaken the pilgrimage based on their faith and convenience. The representatives argued that placing restrictions on the number of pilgrims not only undermines the spirit of the pilgrimage but also disrupts the economic activities linked to it.
They emphasised that the pilgrimage supports the livelihoods of thousands of families in the hill districts and surrounding regions. According to them, the restrictions have resulted in fewer tourists and pilgrims visiting the region, thereby affecting business prospects for hotels and other service providers along the route. The delegation maintained that, if the limitations continue, the financial impact on the local population and the state’s economy could become more severe in the coming years.
The representatives therefore demanded that the government remove the upper limit on the number of pilgrims allowed to undertake the Char Dham Yatra through the online and offline registration system. They also called for the removal of the barricading system installed at various points along the pilgrimage route, arguing that it creates unnecessary inconvenience for travellers and disrupts the natural flow of the pilgrimage.
According to the delegation, the focus should instead be on ensuring that the pilgrimage is organised in a practical and efficient manner while maintaining adequate facilities for pilgrims. They suggested that the government issues necessary directions to simplify the travel process and make the pilgrimage smoother and more accessible for devotees.
Responding to the concerns raised by the delegation, Bhatt assured the representatives that he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and request that the issue be considered sympathetically.
About The Author
