Chief Secretary Radha Raturi reviews work progress at Kedarnath Dham

Uttarakhand’s Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, made surprise visit to Kedarnath Dham on Thursday, reviewed the progress of ongoing reconstruction and development projects. Stressing the urgency of accelerating various construction initiatives, CS Raturi instructed officials to ensure the completion of all essential tasks before the scheduled opening of Kedarnath Dham’s doors on May 10th. To achieve this you deploy additional manpower and resources too. She also instructed the officials to do everything to ensure hassle-free journey for pilgrims.

Accompanied by Tourism Department Officer on Special Duty Bhaskar Khulbe, DGP Abhinav Kumar, and Tourism Secretary Sachin Kurve, Chief Secretary Raturi arrived at Kedarnath via helicopter around 07:45 am. She held a meeting with the District Magistrate and Public Works Department (PWD) officials to assess the progress of ongoing projects.

Inspecting key areas such as Mandakini-Saraswati Ghat, Guest House, Hospital, Astha Path, and the Kedarnath Temple complex, Raturi emphasized the importance of timely completion of all works. Instructions were issued to prioritize additional labor and resources for essential tasks, including the construction of Astha Path and Water ATMs, to ensure readiness before the Yatra commences.

The District Magistrate was directed to expedite construction efforts by utilizing additional resources and completing the corridor from Gol Chabutra to the temple complex promptly. Quality control measures were stressed upon, with officials instructed to maintain high standards in construction materials.

Furthermore, Raturi underscored the importance of prioritizing devotee facilities and ensuring a seamless and well-organized pilgrimage experience. The Chief Secretary, along with the accompanying officials, also engaged with local businessmen to address their concerns, assuring appropriate action.

During the inspection, DGP Abhinav Kumar supervised the construction and arrangements for the police department in Kedarnath, urging timely completion while upholding construction quality standards.

The visit concluded at around 10:30 a.m., with Chief Secretary Raturi departing for Badrinath from the helipad. The presence of key officials and employees, including Superintendent Engineer 8th Circle PWD Tehri Mukesh Parmar, DDMA Vinay Jhinquan, Assistant Engineer PWD Rajvindra Singh, Manish, and Ajay Thapliyal, underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring the successful execution of reconstruction efforts at Shri Kedarnath Dham.