(HT)
The Uttarakhand government is set to revive the traditional pilgrim trail to the Kedarnath shrine in August during this year’s Char Dham Yatra, in an effort to ease congestion on the existing route, a senior official said on Monday.
“Our goal is to complete construction by August, during this year’s yatra season. However, progress is subject to conditions such as the weather, and we must exercise caution during the pilgrimage period. The existing trek route lies just below this one,” said Vinay Jhinkwan, executive engineer, civil division, Public Works Department (PWD). “Approximately 80% of the hill-cutting work has been completed. Though there won’t be significant change in the walking distance. The existing route is congested during the yatra season with pilgrim numbers increasing each year and operation of mules. It will ease the congestion on the existing trek route,” Jhinkwan added.
About 9km of the original Rambara-Garudchatti-Kedarnath trek route was washed away during flash floods in 2013 that claimed over 6,000 lives and swept away several settlements, including the one around Kedarnath shrine. A new trail was built on the right bank of the Mandakini river after installing a bridge near Rambara.
