Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the opening ceremony of the Char Dham Yatra on April 30, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage season with the opening of the Shri Yamunotri Dham doors.
Speaking to the media, CM Dhami reassured devotees that the state government is closely monitoring the situation to ensure a smooth and safe journey for all pilgrims.
The Char Dham Yatra, a significant religious event for the people of Uttarakhand, has seen a marked increase in pilgrim numbers, thanks to the infrastructure and development efforts led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
CM Dhami highlighted the challenges posed by the Yamunotri route, which he described as more difficult compared to the other Dhams. To address this, the government is working on a master plan to improve access and ease the journey for devotees.
"We are monitoring the situation from every angle to ensure that the Char Dham Yatra pilgrims do not face any problems... The journey to Yamunotri Dham is slightly more challenging than that to the other Dhams. For this, we are working on making a master plan... Pilgrimage has increased significantly since 2014, following the work undertaken on all four Dhams under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Dhami said.
The Chief Minister also addressed the ongoing disaster management efforts around the Yamuna Ghat, which was affected by a recent disaster. He confirmed that arrangements are being made for large helicopters to assess the damage and ensure the safety of the complex.
"Due to a disaster on the Yamuna Ghat, arrangements for big helicopters are being made for the damage around the complex," Dhami added.
The Char Dham Yatra, often considered a festival for the people of Uttarakhand, is set to continue with full preparations in place. "Char Dham Yatra has begun, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri have opened. It is like a festival for the people of Uttarakhand. All the preparations have been done. We want the yatra to be safe, easy, and hassle-free. Various departments have made arrangements. We will be working to facilitate easy yatra for people," CM Dhami assured.
As the Char Dham Yatra 2025 kicks off, more than 22 lakh devotees have already registered for the pilgrimage at the Rishikesh Transit Camp and are heading toward their sacred destinations. The government has vowed to ensure that the Yatra remains a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all visitors.