The SDC Foundation has recommended that the Uttarakhand government regulate the number of pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra based on the carrying capacity of each shrine. The foundation warned that uncontrolled crowds could create serious challenges in managing pilgrim flow and ensuring safety at the sacred sites.
SDC Foundation founder Anoop Nautiyal highlighted that this year, the state government has allowed unrestricted pilgrim entry, despite expectations of higher turnout than previous years. Citing the 2024 Char Dham Yatra report, he noted that over 48 lakh devotees visited the shrines during the 192-day yatra, with 41% of them arriving in the first month alone.
Nautiyal questioned the logic behind the slot booking system when there is no upper limit on the number of pilgrims. He called for greater clarity in the registration process and stressed the need to align pilgrim numbers with the actual capacity of the Char Dham sites.
