Proposal send to ADB to fund project to track pilgrims: Govt

Uttarakhand government has sent a proposal to the Asian Development Bank requesting it to fund a project introducing radio frequency identification technology to track pilgrims in case of a crisis on chardham yatra route.
After implementation of the project, an RSID chip will be tagged on to the usual ID cards of pilgrims on way to the Himalayan shrines which will help rescuers locate them in case of a disaster.
Tourism Secretary Umakant Panwar told reporters at a joint press conference along with Disaster Management Secretary Meenakshi Sundaram and PWD secretary Amit Negi.
A proposal has been sent to the ADB to fund the project, he said adding ADB's response to it will be known in a week.

Implementation of the project is likely by the next yatra season.
On preparations for the chardham yatra scheduled to begin on April 21, he said 97 per cent of the work has been done but some roads are still being repaired in patches on the pilgrimage route.

There is 8-10 ft of snow on way to Badrinath and Kedarnath but efforts are on to clear the roads and ready them for pilgrims on time, he said.
Companies of SDRF have been deployed along chardham route especially the slide prone areas for the safety of pilgrims besides stationing 200-300 JCBs to clear road blockages, Disaster Management Secretary Meenakshi Sundaram said.

Gangotri and Yamunotri will reopen after the winter break on April 21 to be followed by Kedarnath on April 24 and Badrinath on April 26.