No cap on number of pilgrim for Char Dham yatra this season

GARHWAL: There will be no cap on the number of devotees undertaking the Char Dham yatra this year, officials said on Monday, adding that preparations for were almost complete.
Garhwal divisional commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had instructed officials to ensure pilgrims do not face any inconvenience during the journey. "Our preparations are almost complete. There is a special focus on 3-4 things: traffic arrangements, pure drinking water and parking," Pandey said. "This time, the yatra route has been divided into 10-km sectors. Our officials will travel these routes on two-wheelers with walkie-talkies. The sectors have also been grouped into zones and super zones," he said.
"PM Modi has given the tagline 'Green Yatra' for this pilgrimage. Field officers have been told that we must ensure there is no litter on the route. People are being motivated to follow this, and eco-friendly alternatives are being provided," Pandey said.
On Sunday, a 30-member advance team from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee reached Badrinath Dham to begin restoration and infrastructure work ahead of the yatra, an official statement said. The doors of Badrinath Dham will open on May 4. While the state government is working on broader preparations, BKTC has been overseeing the site-specific arrangements. The weather in Badrinath remains clear, though patches of snow are still visible on surrounding hills. AGENCIES