In a press conference on April 18, 2023, the District Magistrate of Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand), Mayur Dikshit, announced that a maximum of 13,000 pilgrims could visit the Kedarnath shrine per day.
The annual Kedarnath Yatra (pilgrimage) will commence on April 25, 2023.
The Government has set a daily limit this time, and additionally, a token system has been introduced for the convenience of the pilgrims.
The DM said these measures are meant for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
In a joint press conference, DM Mayur Dikshit and the Superintendent of Police of Rudraprayag Vishaka Ashok Bhadane reviewed the arrangements for the forthcoming yatra.
The pilgrims will get better medical care this time. This will be done by deploying 22 doctors and an equal number of pharmacists along the Yatra route.
Three physicians, two orthopaedic surgeons, and 12 medical review points have been set up along the route.
In addition, six ambulances have also been deployed along the route, of which three have been kept in reserve, and the Government has arranged an air ambulance for any emergency.
Sulabh International has been tasked with keeping the yatra route clean, while the Kedarnath Nagar Panchayat has been assigned to keep the temple premises clean.
Sulabh International is also building permanent toilets for waste management. The animal husbandry department will conduct health examinations of mules and horses along the Yatra route.
In view of the huge amount of plastic waste being generated, this year in the Char Dham yatra, the district administration of Rudraprayag, has come up with an initiative wherein plastic beverage bottles, embedded with QR codes, would be sold at Rs 10 more than the MRP and once they are returned, the Rs 10 will be refunded.
Jal Sansthans has installed nine water purifiers from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham to provide clean drinking water to the pilgrims.
The DM said 2500 people would be accommodated in Garwhal Mandal Vikas Mandal (GMVM) guesthouses from Guptkashi to Badi Lincholi.
Besides, two tent colonies with 80 beds are being set up in New Ghoda Padav and Himlok colony in Kedarnath Dham, which will accommodate 1600 people.
The SP, Vishaka Ashok Bhadane said 450 police officers and employees had been deployed to conduct the yatra in an orderly manner, and arrangements for 150-200 police personnel from outside the state are being made.
A lost and found centre will also be operated during the yatra. Along with this, signboards have been prepared in different languages for pilgrims from various states.
The officials said additional parking lots had been identified to deal with frequent traffic snarls during the pilgrimage.
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