The planning of the biannual Char Dham Yatra has already been initiated, and the government has already begun issuing compulsory Green Cards to vehicles starting today. The action is preceded by the pilgrimage season, which will start on April 19 and open temple doors in stages.
The Uttarakhand government has introduced the Green Card system to control the number of vehicles passing through the yatra routes and protect the pilgrims. Such permits are mostly demanded on commercial vehicles like taxis, buses, and tourist carriers, which are engaged in the pilgrimage season in the region.
According to the transport department officials, the issuance of the Green Cards to the vehicles will only be done after careful verification of the necessary documents, such as the registration certificates, insurance, fitness certificate, pollution compliance and so on. This is done to make sure that only roadworthy vehicles are permitted to work on the tough mountainous roads.
The Char Dham Yatra is a procession that spans four holy temples, including Yamunotri Temple, Gangotri Temple, Kedarnath Temple and Badrinath Temple and draws millions of followers annually. During most occasions, the large presence of pilgrims results in congestion and a high probability of accidents, and therefore, controlling traffic is a major issue of interest to the authorities.
The government, through the Green Card system, intends to ease the traffic movement, check the movement of vehicles and improve the general security within the yatra. Cars that lack legitimate permits can be pulled over at different checkpoints and not allowed access into the pilgrimage routes.
Besides the vehicle regulations, the authorities have also increased the preparations, which are related to infrastructure, medical facilities and disaster management, to have a smooth and secure pilgrimage experience. The security measures are being enhanced in the main areas, and the liaison between the various departments has been enhanced.
The pilgrimage season will start with the opening of temple doors on April 19 and its official start. Religious pilgrims intending to travel should ensure that they do all the preparations needed and adhere to the rules given by the government.
As people anticipate such large numbers of pilgrims in a few months, the initial launching of Green Cards shows that the government is ready, focused on safety, and efficient operations of one of the most important religious yatra in India.
