VARANASI: In an effort to increase boarding facilities in the city, considering the huge turnout of pilgrims from across the globe during the forthcoming Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025, district magistrate S Rajalingam issued strict instructions to the ADM (protocol) and tourism department.
They are to give clearance to the registration process of paying guest and home stay facilities within a month after the submission of applications.
To review Kashi’s preparedness for handling the footfall of pilgrims, which is already very high following the opening of the rejuvenated Kashi Vishwanath Dham in December 2021, the district magistrate convened a meeting of officials from the tourism and other concerned departments on Thursday.
He requested that a receipt be provided upon receiving applications seeking registration for stay facilities in these categories.
To avoid unnecessary delays, the district magistrate set a one-month time limit to process the applications for granting recognition. He stated that the tourism department should not keep any file pending unnecessarily.
All concerned departments, including tourism, LIU, the concerned police station, Varanasi Development Authority, and Varanasi Municipal Corporation, were asked to process applications for registration in parallel.
The district magistrate warned that any violation of the rules and conditions of registration by facility owners or operators would result in the sealing of the concerned stay house without any leniency.
He instructed the Varanasi Development Authority and Varanasi Municipal Corporation to conduct proper inspections of these facilities. He also directed the ADM (protocol) to provide a complete list of all hotels, dharamshalas, paying guests, and home stays in the city, including the number of rooms and phone numbers, to ensure proper accommodation arrangements for the large number of pilgrims expected during the upcoming Mahakumbh.
The meeting was attended by the ADM Protocol, Secretary of the Development Authority, Deputy Director of Tourism, and officials from the Municipal Corporation.