Faith can't protect crumbling infra

Religious tourism is huge in India. And, yet, overwhelming parts of it are uncomfortable, stressful and, as landslides and stampedes underline, dangerous. Much of this is due to the sheer volume-infrastructural mismatch. The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand rose from 4.5 lakh pilgrims in 2012 to over 50 lakh in 2023. Today, as heavy rains and landslides batter the region, pilgrims (and residents) are paying the price for reckless, short-sighted development polices. The recent landslide in J&K's Reasi district, which killed at least 40 pilgrims on the Vaishno Devi route, is also part of this grim pattern the Himalayan region is especially susceptible to. But this is not confined to mountains and hills. Tourist numbers surge. But instead of managing growth wisely, authorities approve anything that looks like business and short-term economic largesse, while ignoring the big picture. This has to stop.

Religious tourism sustains livelihoods and contributes to regional growth. But the choice can't be between economic benefits and safety/comfort, and matters left to leaps of faith. Serious, enforceable safeguards and implementable policy plans must be adopted. Caps on visitor numbers, a tourist cess, stricter construction codes, robust disaster preparedness, climate-resilient planning and genuine local participation are not optional but essential.

Relentless over-tourism and mindless construction has already given tourism as a whole, and sacral getaways, in India a bad name. Protecting lives, fragile ecosystems and cultural heritage requires tough decisions now. Faith may inspire pilgrims, but it can't shield them from discomfort and danger. India needs an actionable policy that makes religious tourism safer, sustainable and resilient.