CM Issues Directives for Proper Management Amid Rising Number of Devotees at Kainchi Dham

In view of the increasing number of devotees visiting Kainchi Dham, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has issued directives for proper and systematic management. During a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence on Thursday, he emphasized preparing short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans to address the growing scale of the Kainchi Dham fair and to ensure better facilities for devotees.

The Chief Minister instructed that immediate steps should be taken to improve the current functioning of the fair, while medium- and long-term measures should focus on establishing a robust and permanent management system. He also directed that the ongoing road-cutting work along a 3-kilometer stretch from the Sanatorium to beyond the Bhowali petrol pump be completed on a war footing to enhance traffic arrangements.

District Magistrate of Nainital, Mrs. Vandana Singh, informed that the number of devotees visiting the famous pilgrimage site of Kainchi Dham has been increasing rapidly every year. Around 24 lakh (2.4 million) devotees visited Kainchi Dham in the past year, compared to an average of around 8 lakh (800,000) in previous years. An even larger number of devotees is expected this year.

She further stated that Kainchi Dham has limited capacity, but during the fair, the number of devotees far exceeds that limit. This year, an estimated 2.5 to 3 lakh (250,000 to 300,000) devotees are expected to visit, prompting authorities to prepare a well-structured traffic and crowd management plan.

To ensure a safe, organized, and smooth pilgrimage, she suggested implementing a registration system and capping the number of visitors to Kainchi Dham in the future.

Present at the meeting were Principal Secretary Mr. R.K. Sudhanshu, Mr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Mr. Shailesh Bagauli, Mr. Vinay Shankar Pandey, Additional Director General of Police Mr. A.P. Anshuman, IG Kumaon Mrs. Riddhim Aggarwal (virtually), and SSP Nainital Mr. P.S. Meena.

— Department of Information & Public Relations.