How is Uttarakhand Planning to Enhance Crowd Management at Kainchi Dham?

Nainital, Aug 14 (NationPress) In a remarkable initiative to enhance the management of increasing crowds at the sacred Kainchi Dham of Baba Neem Karoli, the Uttarakhand administration is developing a thorough crowd control system, which will include both a set visitor capacity and facilities for online registration.

Each year, millions of devotees visit the Dham, resulting in congestion not only within the temple grounds but also in the neighboring areas. To tackle this escalating issue, the government has launched a carrying capacity survey to evaluate the actual visitor limits of the site and its surrounding regions.

This survey, which is expected to last six months, will conduct a detailed examination of the temple area, available tourist services, traffic patterns, lodging options, and infrastructural preparedness.

The Tourism Secretary, Dhiraj Garbyal, mentioned that the survey will also identify how many pilgrims come exclusively for Kainchi Dham and how many continue to other notable locations such as Almora, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar.

As part of this strategy, real-time tracking systems have been established, featuring CCTV surveillance along essential routes and within the temple vicinity. This will enable officials to monitor the flow of both pilgrims and vehicles, facilitating quick responses and improved management during peak times.

Moreover, data is being gathered from local accommodations, homestays, and parking facilities to evaluate the strain on existing infrastructure. The primary aim is to create a sustainable system that guarantees safety, comfort, and spiritual tranquility for visitors.

According to the Tourism Secretary, an online registration platform, akin to the one used for the Chardham Yatra, is being considered. This would allow devotees to reserve darshan slots in advance, thus assisting the administration in managing the influx and ensuring a more organized experience.

“This will not only improve the experience for devotees but also enable faster action in emergencies,” Garbyal emphasized.

Following the monsoon season, the administration will also commence improvements to tourist facilities, including road enhancements, expanded parking, increased accommodation availability, and better sanitation. Authorities are confident that with careful assessment and structured planning, Kainchi Dham can provide a more serene and organized pilgrimage experience.

“Our team has already initiated this process. It will take approximately six months. For monitoring, we have also implemented CCTV systems,” Garbyal stated.