Garhwal commissioner raises online registration limit for Char Dham Yatra by 15 per cent

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun

Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey increased the online registration limit for the Char Dham Yatra by 15 per cent on Monday. The new ratio allows 75 per cent of pilgrims to register online, replacing the earlier split of 60 per cent online and 40 per cent offline. He made this decision during a meeting held on Monday with hotel business representatives from Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. The meeting took place at the commissioner’s camp office in Dehradun and focused on reviewing preparations for the Yatra. Hotel representatives raised several concerns and requested an increase in the online registration quota, which the commissioner accepted after discussions. The commissioner also approved the request to set up more registration centres along the Yatra routes. Authorities will establish new counters at Gauchar for Badrinath, Hina (Bhatwadi) and Uttarkashi for Gangotri, Dobata and Damta for Yamunotri and the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) guest house in Guptkashi for Kedarnath. He urged hotel owners and other stakeholders to support the administration in managing the Yatra efficiently and safely. The president of the Char Dham Hotel Association Rajesh Mehta also submitted a memorandum confirming the hoteliers’ full cooperation. Participants welcomed the decisions and assured the administration of their support for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.