By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 28 Aug: Minister for Tourism, Dharma, Culture, and Public Works, Satpal Maharaj held a meeting with various departmental officials to discuss preparations for the “Jagdra Festival”, a state fair at the “Mahasu Devta Temple” in Hanol, Jaunsar Bhabar.
The meeting, held at the IHM complex in Gaddi Cantt on Wednesday, included the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, RTO, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chairman of Hanol Temple Committee, Public Works Department, General Manager of Water Works, and other relevant officials. Maharaj stressed the need for seamless facilities and arrangements for the thousands of devotees expected from Uttarakhand and other states. He emphasised ensuring effective transportation, parking, traffic control, sanitation, and health services. Additionally, the provision of food and drink at the temple premises was discussed.
Maharaj instructed the officials to deploy adequate police personnel for security during the festival and to declare public holidays in schools in the Jaunsar Bhabar and Uttarkashi regions. He outlined transportation arrangements including bus services from Herbertpur, Bairatkhai, Chakrata, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Shimla, and requested the Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri to arrange Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses from Shimla, Haatkotki, and Paonta to Hanol.
He also announced the forthcoming launch of the Ganga Yamuna Express, which will connect various religious sites including Hanol, Bhopal, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Yamunotri, and Karsali.
The meeting was attended by Tourism Secretary Sachin Kurve, Director of Publicity Sumit Pant, Director, Culture, Beena Bhatt, SDM, Chakrata, Arpana Dhondiyal, SP, City, Pratyush Singh, and other officials.
