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The Char Dham Green Card is a mandatory safety permit for commercial vehicles (buses, taxis, maxis) entering Uttarakhand's Char Dham route. It verifies vehicle fitness and essential documents like insurance and pollution certificates to ensure safe travel on steep mountain roads.
Why In News
The Uttarakhand Transport Department has mandated the "Green Card" for all commercial vehicles entering the high-altitude circuit to ensure safety and environmental compliance.
What is the Char Dham Green Card?
The Green Card is a mandatory safety and fitness certification required for all commercial vehicles (buses, taxis, and maxi-cabs) on the Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath) routes.
Key Components
Trip Card: Alongside the Green Card, a 'Trip Card' is generated for every specific journey, capturing details of passengers, the driver, and the route.
Technical Inspection: Focuses on braking systems, tyre quality, and engine health suitable for steep gradient driving.
QR-Code Integration: Every Green Card features a Unique QR Code. Enforcement officers use handheld devices to instantly verify the vehicle’s insurance, pollution status, and the driver’s history".
Strategic Significance
Himalayan roads are prone to "brake failure" and "skidding" accidents due to steep descents. The Green Card ensures that only mechanically superior vehicles and experienced "Hill-Drivers" are permitted to enter the circuit.
By tracking every vehicle through the integrated Trip Card, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) can precisely locate and evacuate pilgrims during flash floods, cloudbursts, or landslides.
The Himalayas are a carbon-sensitive region. Regulating the fitness of vehicles ensures lower emissions, helping to mitigate the deposition of "Black Carbon" on the Gangotri and Kedarnath glaciers.
Source: INDIATODAY
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. "While technological interventions like the Green Card system can regulate tourism, they are insufficient to address the macro-level ecological crisis in the Himalayas." Evaluate. 150 words |
It is a mandatory safety, fitness, and environmental certification protocol issued by Uttarakhand's Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) for all commercial passenger vehicles operating on the Char Dham routes to ensure they meet hill safety and pollution standards.
While the Green Card acts as a seasonal vehicle fitness and compliance permit, the Trip Card is generated digitally for every single journey to record real-time details of the route, driver, and the exact number of passengers to aid disaster management and rescue operations.
A hill endorsement is required to prove a driver's capability to safely navigate the steep, hazardous, and landslide-prone gradients of the Himalayan roads. It is earned after passing a specialized driving proficiency test.
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