Tourists seeking permission for trekking and adventure tourism in the district will no longer need to run from one department to another. On the initiative of the district administration, a new portal named exploreuttarkashi.com has been launched. The objective is to make the management of trekking and adventure activities completely modern, transparent and regulated.
This portal will provide access to all authoriesd treks, registered trekking agencies, trained guides, the trekking pass system, as well as online registration and payment facilities.
Addressing Previous Challenges
It is worth noting that Jagran recently highlighted the delay in launching this new portal. Previously, trekking operations in the district relied on an offline system. Tourists and trekking agencies were forced to make repeated visits to the Forest Department and the SDM office for various requirements, including agency verification, document checks, confirmation of guide qualifications, safety equipment inspections, and the issuance of trekking passes.
In response to these challenges, efforts to develop a "Single Window System" portal began last year. On Thursday, after a long wait, the new portal was officially launched as exploreuttarkashi.com.
New Directives For Agencies And Guides
District Tourism Development Officer KK Joshi stated that all trekking agencies in the district have been directed to update the portal with their agency profiles, registration details, guide certificates, experience records, and all other necessary information.
It is now mandatory for every agency to register at least two approved and trained guides. These guides must have their mountaineering training from a recognized institute, high-altitude and first aid certificates, experience details, and identity documents fully verified and uploaded to the system.
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Time-Bound Processing And Verification
Agencies are expected to process any application submitted by trekkers within 24 to 48 hours to ensure the trekking process proceeds smoothly and within a set timeframe.
The respective trekking agency will bear full responsibility for verifying the details, documents, and travel insurance provided by the trekker. Additionally, the trekker will be required to submit an undertaking via email.