Official visits Yatra terminal at Rishikesh

With officials still checking preparations for the Char Dham Yatra almost a week after the portals of two of the Char Dham shrines- Gangotri and Yamunotri were reopened for the public, Garhwal commissioner Dilip Jawalkar inspected the Yatra terminal at Rishikesh on Sunday. He also checked the preparations for the formal inauguration by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat

The Garhwal commissioner averred that the State Government is committed to providing maximum facilities to pilgrims arriving in Uttarakhand for the Char Dham Yatra. For this purpose, the departments concerned will ensure the facilitation of adequate parking space, free WiFi, signage display, medical facilities and other aspects for the benefit of the Char Dham pilgrims. Jawalkar also issued various instructions to officials concerned in this regard.

He further said that parking facility will be ensured here for about 200 vehicles. Encroachments made on the parking area will be removed in the near future so that as many vehicles as possible can be made available for the pilgrims arriving here during the Yatra season. He directed the transport department to ensure that the buses plying on Yatra circuit also have drinking water arrangement. The regional transport office was also directed to ensure that vomiting bag is also provided for tourists in all the vehicles. These bags will be provided by the tourism department. The commissioner also directed the transport officer to check the fitiness certificate of all 108 ambulance service vehicles before they are deployed on the Yatra circuit. He directed the Rishikesh municipality assistant executive officer and the Yatra administration to ensure adequate fans at the bus station for the travelers. Water ATMs should also be installed at various places. Separate sites should be marked for placing the buses departing for different destinations for the convenience of travelers arriving here from outside. This will also help in preventing any type of misunderstanding. To ensure uninterrupted internet facility for pilgrims arriving here, Jawalkar also directed the officials concerned tofacilitate free WiFi facility at the Rishikesh bus station. The medical health department officials were also directed to set up one medical booth at the Yatra terminal here.

Addressing the local police station in charge, he said that the Uttarakhand police should work as a friend of the people ensuring that the pilgrims are provided all necessary information and assistance. The police officer was also directed to set up a large display board at the police post for providing Yatra related information to the pilgrims. It is pertinent to mention here that the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is slated to flag off buses plying on the Yatra route on a rotation basis from Rishikesh.

It will be recalled that on April 18, the principal secretary had written to the Garhwal commissioner listing the various issues faced in the conduct of the Char Dham Yatra. He had mentioned the various problems and anomalies experienced by pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra and had directed that necessary measures be taken to resolve these.