Construction of road halted, Kailash yatris to go on foot

NAINITAL: With the opening of a 3km stretch from Lakhanpur to Najang that had been blocked last month for construction of a road, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will take place as usual. Earlier, the administration had raised concerns that work on the route may not be completed in time for the yatra which begins on June 8. There were plans to ferry pilgrims in helicopters from Pithoragarh to Gunji.
The route in Byans Valley along the China border does not have a motorable road. For the convenience of the pilgrims, work on the road has been halted, authorities said. R K Pandey, sub divisional magistrate (Dharchula), said, “The road construction has been stopped for now and pilgrims can use the route.”
The traditional route is used by Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, pilgrims to Adi Kailash Yatra and traders participating in the India-Tibet annual border trade. While the first batch of Adi Kailash pilgrims has left for the yatra from Dharchula, the first group of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims will depart from Dharchula on 12th of the month.
The agency which organises the yatra, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), told TOI that preparations for both yatras is complete. “The guest houses on the travel route are ready to welcome the pilgrims,” said T S Martoliya, general manager, KMVN.