Kainchi Dham: Daily cap of 20,000–25,000 devotees and online registration planned; separate entry and exit routes

With growing crowds at Kainchi Dham in Nainital and jams on the Bhowali–Almora highway, the administration is preparing to limit the number of devotees to 20,000–25,000 a day and to start online registration on the lines of the Char Dham Yatra. This was agreed at a meeting chaired by Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat in Nainital on Tuesday; more than 50,000 devotees reached the shrine last weekend. The system is not in force yet: the DM and SSP will send a joint proposal to the government. Under the plan, registration will be through a portal and a mobile app, registration will close once the day's limit is reached, and devotees will be allowed ahead only after showing a valid booking at the main entry point. In the first phase, bookings of those coming in private vehicles will be checked; a shuttle service is being considered for those arriving by taxi and bus. The temple will have separate entry and exit routes, bathing in the Shipra river will be banned, and hotels, homestays and restaurants will have to display rate lists. (Source: Hindustan, Dainik Jagran)