Dehradun, Jul 17 (PTI) With the Kanwar Yatra set to begin in a few days, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan on Friday announced that the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will remain off-limits for Kanwar pilgrims, Presiding over an inter-state coordination meeting to review preparations for the annual pilgrimage, Bardhan issued clear directions that the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor (Expressway) should not be used for the movement of Kanwariyas.
He asked officials from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to make the necessary arrangements well in advance to ensure the measure is implemented effectively.
The meeting was attended by senior administrative and police officials from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, along with representatives of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other central and state agencies.
The Kanwar Yatra will be held from July 30 to August 11.
Describing the Kanwar Yatra as one of the country’s largest religious gatherings, Bardhan said millions of devotees collect Ganga water from Haridwar and carry it to their destinations across different states.
He stressed that the success of the pilgrimage depends on seamless coordination among all participating states and agencies.
He urged all states to prioritise the safety and convenience of pilgrims, complete preparations on time and remain vigilant throughout the yatra.
Bardhan also cautioned that although Haridwar is the focal point of the pilgrimage, any untoward incident anywhere along the route could have far-reaching consequences.
He directed all states to ensure robust security, traffic and disaster management arrangements within their jurisdictions.
The chief secretary further instructed that all Kanwar pilgrims should carry valid identity cards and that the ban on carrying lethal weapons or any prohibited items during the pilgrimage must be enforced strictly.
During the meeting, participating states agreed to work under a common action plan and establish a mechanism for rapid information sharing and joint monitoring to ensure smooth management of the Kanwar Mela.
It was also decided to set up joint check-posts and barriers at Uttarakhand’s borders in coordination with police forces from neighbouring states.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police Deepam Seth and Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli briefed the meeting on preparations for the Kanwar Mela.
Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit said the ‘Panchak’ period will be observed from July 31 to August 4, while a sharp surge in the number of pilgrims is expected from August 5 onwards.
Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar gave a detailed presentation on security arrangements, crowd management, traffic and parking plans, the joint monitoring system and the integrated command and control system for the yatra. PTI DPT NB NB
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