In preparation for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to ensure a safe, seamless, and well-coordinated pilgrimage.
The directives were issued during a key traffic management meeting held at the Secretariat, where CM Dhami emphasized the importance of finalizing all necessary arrangements at least a week before the Yatra commences.
The sacred journey will begin with the opening of the Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines on April 30, followed by Kedarnath on May 2 and Badrinath on May 4.
Highlighting the importance of better infrastructure and digital systems, CM Dhami stressed on the need for improved parking facilities in areas near hotels, dharamshalas, and homestays along the travel routes. He also advocated for smarter technology integration to manage the pilgrim flow and ensure real-time updates.
"The slot management system should be further improved for visiting the Dhams. The adequate arrangements of CCTV cameras should be made at sensitive places on the travel routes. Real-time monitoring of high-traffic areas should be done," he said.
Focusing on avoiding past issues, he asked the police and administration to operate more efficiently this year.
"Real-time information of places with jam situations should be shared on social media and other mediums. Traffic and weather information should be regularly updated on the social media handles of the police and administration. Arrangements should be made so that devotees can get information about parking places on the travel routes from Google Maps," CM Dhami said.
He urged devotees to register before undertaking the Yatra, citing the arrangements made to streamline the process — 60% online and 40% offline registrations. These steps, he added, are aimed at ensuring the safety and convenience of pilgrims.
"For well-organized travel operations, continuous coordination should be made with all the stakeholders associated with the travel routes and their suggestions should be taken seriously. Information about the preparations made by the government for the Char Dham Yatra should also be shared with the stakeholders. He directed the officials to strengthen the alternative routes for the Char Dham Yatra. Local people should also be contacted on a payment basis to develop temporary parking on the travel routes," the Chief Minister added.
To further aid pilgrims, CM Dhami instructed that police help desks be established along the route and that high-altitude and disaster-prone areas be monitored using drone cameras. He also ordered that necessary equipment be deployed in vulnerable areas.
"Crash barriers should be installed as per requirement on the travel routes. Intensive checking of vehicles should be carried out by the police and transport department and special attention should be paid to the fitness of vehicles. Adequate arrangements of signage should be made for various information on the travel routes," the CM directed.
Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth elaborated on the security blueprint. He shared that approximately 48 lakh devotees safely undertook the Yatra last year and assured that an upgraded strategy has been put in place for 2025.
The deployment this year includes 50 police stations, 79 reporting posts, 38 temporary check-posts, and a total police force of 5,850. Three detailed traffic plans have been devised to manage vehicle pressure and prevent congestion. A dedicated Char Dham Control Room has been set up under the IG of Police (Garhwal Range), with SP Traffic Dehradun Lokjeet Singh in charge.
Furthermore, a Char Dham Cell will be operational at the Police Headquarters, headed by the IG of Crime and Law & Order, to ensure continuous monitoring.
The travel route has been segmented into 15 super zones, 41 zones, and 137 sectors. The police have already identified 54 bottlenecks, 198 accident-prone areas, 49 black spots, and 66 landslide-prone locations to proactively manage any potential disruptions during the sacred journey.
