Rudranath temple will open on 18 may, preparations of travel arrangements has begun.

Chamoli: Himanshu Khurana, District Magistrate Chamoli, held a meeting with the temple priests, and right holders and concerned departmental officials regarding the travel arrangements to Fourth Kedar Shri Rudranath Dham on Thursday.

He directed the departments to ensure all necessary arrangements before the commencement of the Yatra. This year the doors of Lord Rudranath Temple will open on 18th May.

The District Magistrate has directed the Forest Department officials to carry out on-site inspection of the Rudranath walking route along with the officials of the Temple Committee and identify the damaged places on the route and to improve the road at such places on priority. A proposal should be prepared to transfer the Rudranath footpath to the Public Works Department. For the convenience of the pilgrims, signboards should be installed at the rain shelter near Panchganga and on the yatra route.

He also directed the concerned departments to complete the remaining work of Rudranath Drinking Water Scheme expeditiously after the snow melts in Rudranath. Solar lights should be arranged at important places. EDC should be formed for cleanliness and sanitation arrangements in pedestrian routes. Arrangements should be made to ban plastic items on the travel route. The telecommunication system should be strengthened through network companies. In the meeting, suggestions from the temple priests, rights holders and villagers regarding safe travel arrangements were also taken.