The strategic 900 kilometre-long Chardham project worth Rs 12,000 crore aims to widen roads and provide all-weather connectivity to four holy places -- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath -- in Uttarakhand.
According to the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board, the helicopter service in Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri has become smooth and will resume in Joshimath and Pipalkoti soon.
Kedarnath and Badrinath-bound pilgrims have also been requested not to proceed on their journey till the weather clears. Most of the pilgrims on way to Badrinath are staying in Joshimath and Chamoli, Chamoli district disaster management officer N K Joshi said.
According to the court, the number of pilgrims to be allowed daily will be 800 for Kedarnath, 1000 for Badrinath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for Yamunotri.
The fully air-conditioned train provides two types of accommodation--1st AC and 2nd AC. The train has enhanced security features of CCTV cameras and Security Guards for each coach.
The yatra remained suspended for months due to the pandemic in 2020 and opened in the month of June with a total of 3,21,609 devotees visiting temples during the entire season amid the Covid-induced restrictions.
The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand has begin today after its prolonged suspension due to COVID-19. A day after the Uttarakhand High Court vacated its stay on Chardham Yatra, the state government Friday issued a detailed SOP to start the yatra from Saturday with strict adherence to COVID-19 norms.
The High Court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the state government's preparedness to deal with a possible third wave of COVID-19 and had hence, on June 28, put a stay on a state Cabinet's decision to open the yatra from July 1.
Uttarakhand Chief Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said the live streaming of the Chardham Yatra would not be held as it is not mentioned in the Vedas.
The state High Court on Monday had stayed the state Cabinet's decision permitting Char Dham yatra with a limited number of pilgrims and had also ordered live streaming of Char Dham shrines.
Bringing a negative RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen test report will be mandatory for every pilgrim and the standard operating procedure (SOPs) to be followed by pilgrims while visiting the temples will be issued separately.
Briefing reporters about the cabinet's decision, state government's spokesman Subodh Uniyal said Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri will be opened for residents of Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi districts respectively from July 1 with a cap on the number of pilgrims to visit the temples daily.
Dissatisfied with an affidavit filed by Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar, the court said that the government has only stated that the Char Dham Yatra is barred till June 22 but there is no clarity if it will be carried out in a phased manner.
Uttarakhand government on Tuesday postponed its order to open the Chardham Yatra for people from three districts Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi.
The Uttarakhand government on Monday extended the Covid curfew in the state till June 22 but announced some important relaxations such as opening the Chardham yatra for locals on the condition of a negative RT-PCR test report.
The Uttarakhand government has decided to suspend the Char Dham Yatra this year in view of worsening Covid-19 situation.
The daily limit imposed on the number of people visiting Chardham in Uttarakhand due to the coronavirus pandemic has been eased to allow more pilgrims to visit the Himalayan shrines.
The circular issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with respect to the construction of roads in hilly areas should be followed, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said. The circular, which was issued in 2018 states that the carriageway width shall be of intermediate lane configurations, that is of 5.5 metre width, with two-lane structures.
Soon, crores of devotees will be able to travel to holy Char Dham sites Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath via Indian Railways. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said under the leadership of PM Modi, Railway is going to make the Char Dham Yatra easy for crores of devotees.
Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on Friday announced that the state government has decided to allow devotees from other States to take part in Chardham Yatra.
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