The Uttarakhand government is working on a plan to build a new 100-km road linking Gangotri and Kedarnath, a move that could reduce the distance between the two shrines by around 150 km and make travel easier for pilgrims.
Officials said the state has completed a preliminary survey for the proposed route and sent the project to the Centre for approval. Work on the road is expected to begin once the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways clears the proposal.
According to the plan, the new route will start from Bhatwari and pass through Belak, Jhala, Budha Kedar, Binakkhal, Hatkuni, Ghuttu and Panwali before reaching Triyuginarayan. The proposed road will also include link roads to improve connectivity in the area.
At present, the journey between Gangotri and Kedarnath is around 350 km. The new road is expected to shorten the distance significantly and save travel time for pilgrims. Officials also said the route could serve as an alternative during emergencies and natural disasters.
Public Works Department Minister Satpal Maharaj said the proposal has been submitted to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and official communication with the Centre has already begun. He said the project would not only improve the Char Dham pilgrimage route but also connect hundreds of villages and open up new opportunities for tourism and local employment.
Meanwhile, amid recent threats sent through social media and email targeting the Char Dham shrines, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) said the pilgrimage remains safe and devotees should not pay attention to rumours.
BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said security has been tightened across the shrines and along the yatra routes. He said police, ITBP and SDRF personnel have been deployed at key points, while CCTV and other technical systems are being used for round-the-clock monitoring.
Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons behind the bomb threats and started an investigation. Temple committee officials said they are working closely with the administration to ensure that devotees can continue the yatra without fear.
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