Pilgrims coming on winter pilgrimage will be given 25 percent discount on rent on staying in GMVN hotels: CM

Dehradun: On Tuesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting at the secretariat and announced that pilgrims visiting the winter destinations of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri will receive a 25% discount on hotel rentals at GMVN properties. He instructed officials to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made for these winter travel spots. Additionally, he emphasized the need for extensive promotion of this journey across various states through different channels. The Chief Minister noted that the winter pilgrimage could be a game changer for the state’s economy. He also directed officials to develop key sites around the Panch Badri and Panch Kedar areas for the winter pilgrimage.

Regarding preparations for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, the Chief Minister instructed the relevant district officials to report within a week on the challenges faced during the last pilgrimage and how they can be effectively addressed. He also called for organized parking facilities in densely populated areas and near hotels along the Char Dham routes. He stated that the Char Dham Yatra is closely tied to the pride and honor of the state, and it is our collective responsibility to make the journey convenient and provide every possible comfort to the pilgrims. The Chief Minister mentioned that the number of pilgrims participating in the Char Dham Yatra is increasing rapidly each year. He urged that efforts be made to enhance the carrying capacity of the infrastructure developed at the four holy sites. There should also be a focus on developing and promoting significant ancient sites around the Char Dham. Special attention must be given to roads, drinking water, sanitation, health facilities, and other basic amenities along the pilgrimage routes. Work should also be done on alternative routes for visiting Yamunotri. He suggested that a meeting be held at the government level with stakeholders to gather suggestions for improving pilgrimage management. The Chief Minister also stated that preparations for the upcoming **Ardh Kumbh** in Haridwar should begin immediately, as it is a major event that requires extensive planning across all sectors. He called for rapid progress on the Ganga Corridor and Sharda Corridor projects. Additionally, alternative routes should be developed for the convenience of visitors at Purnagiri and Kainchi Dham, along with effective plans to prevent accidents.

Preparations for the upcoming Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra should also commence. The Chief Minister instructed the transport department to ensure proper transportation arrangements for the Prayagraj Kumbh. He emphasized that visitors and esteemed guests coming to the state should be honored with local products from Uttarakhand as gifts. This initiative will promote the “Vocal for Local” campaign and help our local products gain a broader recognition. The meeting was attended by several key officials, including: * Vishwas Dabur, Vice-Chairperson of the Infrastructure Monitoring Council * Radha Raturi, Chief Secretary* Anand Bardhan, Additional Chief Secretary* R.K. Sudhanshu, Principal Secretar* Deepak Seth**, DGP* R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretar*Shailesh Bagoli, Secretary*Sachin Kurve, Secretary*Dr. Pankaj Pandey, Secretary*Brijesh Kumar Sant, Secretary*H.C. Semwal, Secretary* Vinay Shankar Pandey**, Secretary
*Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar**, Secretary* A.P. Anshuman**, Additional Director General of Police
* Banshidhar Tiwari, Vice-Chairperson of the MDDA The District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from districts related to the Char Dham Yatra were also present virtually.