Preparations almost complete for Char Dham Yatra
By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 10 Apr: Tourism, Religious Affairs and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj today claimed that the Government has completed all necessary arrangements for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. In a statement issued today, Maharaj asserted that the local administrations, in coordination with the departments of tourism, public works, health, and other relevant agencies, are actively engaged in ensuring the smooth and seamless conduct of the pilgrimage.
Maharaj reiterated that the Char Dham Yatra will commence on 30 April with the ceremonial opening of the portals of Yamunotri Dham and Gangotri Dham. At the same time, the portals of Kedarnath Dham will open on 2 May, while the portals of Badrinath Dham will open on 4 May. The revered Gurdwara of Hemkund Sahib is scheduled to open on 25 May.
Maharaj commented on the overwhelming enthusiasm among devotees for the Yatra and assured that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure a comfortable and safe experience for every pilgrim.
Maharaj also claimed that to prevent inconvenience related to helicopter bookings, officials have been instructed to take strict action against black marketing of heli tickets and to prevent collection of arbitrary parking charges for the vehicles along the Yatra routes.
The Tourism Minister reminded that, to support these preparations, the state government has sanctioned a total of Rs. 12.75 crores to the Commissioner of Garhwal Division and respective District Magistrates for essential infrastructural and logistical arrangements. This includes Rs 25 lakhs to the Commissioner, Garhwal, (Pauri), Rs 1 crore each to the District Magistrates of Tehri and Dehradun, Rs 50 lakhs to the District Magistrate of Pauri, and Rs 3 crores each to the District Magistrates of Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag.
Meanwhile the government is also claiming that special attention has been given this year to maintaining cleanliness and sanitation facilities for the convenience of pilgrims. For the cleaning and maintenance of steel-frame toilets in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and the Janaki Chatti to Yamunotri route, forty percent of the allocated amount of Rs 782.228 lakhs has already been paid to the construction unit of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, Dehradun.
A total of 1,584 toilet commodes have been installed in 147 permanent toilet blocks along the Char Dham Yatra route through Sulabh International. This includes 82 commodes on the Gangotri and Yamunotri routes, 551 commodes in various locations within Rudraprayag district, 60 along the Chamoli route, and 20 along the Hemkund Sahib route. These facilities are built with steel-frame structures and will remain functional throughout the Yatra period.
For the safety and monitoring of pilgrims and vehicles, the Tourism Department has implemented a Tourist Safety Management System, which includes provisions for online and offline registration. In addition to these, mobile app-based registration has been introduced, and for the first time this year, pilgrims may also register using their Aadhaar numbers.
Offline registration centres have been set up in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Herbertpur. A State-Level Control Room has been established at the headquarters of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council in Dehradun, which will operate round the clock. A fifteen-line toll-free helpline (0135-1364) has already been made functional. Any additional information related to the Yatra may be obtained by dialling 0135-2552627 or 2559898.
Aadhaar-based registration for pilgrims began on 20 March 2025. A large number of pilgrims are expected again this year, and to avoid long queues, token and slot systems have been implemented for darshan at the Dhams. The Joint Yatra Rotation Centre in Rishikesh, along with the Transport Department, has finalised all preparations. To manage the anticipated influx of devotees, the department has arranged for the deployment of 2,000 buses in Rishikesh, 600 in Haridwar, and 100 in Herbertpur.
