Chamoli/Dehradun 11 May:
A ten-day trial of Token system at Badrinath Shrine has yielded positive result. Looking into it, now the Temple Committee had decided to continue with the token system in the Shrine for worship.
Chief Executive Officer of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee BD Singh said that the token system was introduced after a day of the opening of the portal for ten days on trial basis. He said that in past ten days more than 80,000 devotees had paid their obeisance in the Shrine. He said that three counters had been set up for free tokens at Taxi Stand for the convenience of pilgrims. The pilgrims could obtain token in one day advance also. "In this system more than 600 devotees are able to worship in the temple in an hour," he revealed and added that the token system had also relieved the pilgrims from standing in long queue for several hours. He said that the pilgrims after obtaining token could visit other nearby spots also as the time for their entrance to the shrine was mentioned in the token.
Mr. Singh said that the pilgrims were very cooperative and appreciated the system. He said that if everything went right then more token counters would be opened. "The Temple Committee is also planning for online system though more staff is needed for it," he said. On Friday by 12.00 pm 6000 devotees had paid their obeisance in the Temple.
The Token system has a positive bearing in the market too. As the devotees do not have to stand in a long queue for several tiring hours, they were free to go around the market and make purchases till their stipulated time for the worship. Mr. Singh observed that along with the local traders this year, revenue of the Temple Committee was expected to shoot high. He said that generally seen chaos during worship was missing this time with the introduction of the token system and devotees could be seen at an ease while paying their obeisance. He said that the devotees were being presented with the 'Prasad' of Tulsi and Chandan in small packets by Temple Committee.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate SA Murugeshan taking stock of he Char Dham Yatra asked the officers to take effective measures to check black-marketing of domestic cooking gas and to keep all the requisite arrangements intact. District Supply Officer Vipin Kmar apprised him that supply of diesel and petrol was normal and 786 domestic and 168 commercial LPG cylinders had been supplied in Badrinath.