Steps to prevent accidents on Char Dham yatra route

Sun, May 11 12:05 AM

EVERY YEAR dozens of pilgrims lose their lives and hundreds get injured in accidents on the Char Dham Yatra route. This year, the Uttarakhand government has taken some innovative measures to prevent accidents and bring down the annual figure of causalities.

From this year, the yatra, which began on Wednesday, would witness passenger vehicles and taxis getting their permits for the route cancelled if they speed and complete the arduous journey before the time limit set by the transport department. As per the new rules, vehicles carrying pilgrims to one shrine can return only after four days, those going to two shrines can come back in six days, eight days for vehicles travelling to three shrines and 10 days for those who visit all the four shrines on the route.

The green cards issued by the department to vehicles at the start of the yatra in Rishikesh would be cross-checked and verified at check points all along the route to ensure that vehicles don't violate the time limit in an attempt to ferry more pilgrims. According to transport officials, the new step has been introduced as it was detected that in the past yatra seasons some vehicles drove at fast speed on the route and tried to complete the pilgrimage as soon as possible-which led to many accidents and loss of lives.

It is hoped that the measure would put a rein on those drivers who throw caution to the winds and risk the safety of pilgrims in an attempt to earn some extra money and also let those who come from far and wide to visit the shrines some more time to enjoy their trip. Commissioner (Transport) S.

Ramaswamy stated that several check posts have been set up on the route to keep a tab on speeding vehicles and cancel permits of those found violating the time limit. Tour operators have also been intimated about the new rules.

Earlier practices like checking the fitness of vehicles carrying pilgrims before the start of the yatra and steps to ensure that drivers don't drive without proper rest or after consuming liquor would remain in place. The department has also set up five new check posts on the route to keep a tab on private vehicles ferrying pilgrims on the route.

Till Friday, 35 vehicles carrying passengers illegally were identified at these posts and fines imposed on their drivers.

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