To enhance safety and streamline the registration process for this year’s Chardham Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has proposed linking pilgrim registrations with Aadhaar cards. The proposal has been sent to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Ministry of Information Technology. Once approved, the system is expected to take about a month to implement.
The yatra is set to commence on April 30 with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. Online registration will begin on March 11.
Last year, more than 46 lakh pilgrims visited the four sacred shrines—Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The pilgrimage is a crucial contributor to the local economy, particularly for districts like Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi, along with Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, and Pauri.
In light of past challenges faced due to technical glitches in the registration system, a new plan has been introduced: 60% of the registrations will be online, while 40% will be offline. The offline option will be available starting 10 days before the journey.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey stated that Aadhaar-linked registration will help ensure accurate identification of pilgrims, which will be crucial in emergency situations.
The tourism department has submitted a request to integrate its website with the UIDAI system. Upon approval, the new system is expected to improve security and enable faster assistance to travelers in need.
