Dehradun, July 31 -- The Uttarakhand government has ordered the preparation of a nine-point master plan for all major religious shrines across the state to boost the safety and convenience of pilgrims, officials said. The decision comes in the wake of a stampede at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar on July 27, which claimed nine lives. According to officials, acting on the directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, principal secretary RK Sudhanshu has issued instructions to the tourism department to begin preparing the detailed master plan to address critical areas such as crowd management, infrastructure development, and emergency preparedness. Dhami said, "Crores of pilgrims visit Uttarakhand every year. A comprehensive master plan will be developed to ensure their safety and comfort. By improving public facilities around religious sites, we aim to make the pilgrimage journey more streamlined and secure." Key features of the proposed plan include the development of a modern crowd control system to manage the flow of devotees, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons. The carrying capacity of each religious site will be scientifically assessed to prevent overcrowding. To ensure smooth and safe movement of pilgrims, separate entry and exit routes will be designed. Additionally, extra space will be allocated for waiting areas to reduce congestion near temple premises, officials said. Emergency evacuation systems will also be incorporated into the infrastructure to enable swift response during untoward incidents. A well-organised information and guidance system will be established to assist devotees in navigating the premises efficiently. The plan also includes improved parking arrangements to reduce traffic-related inconveniences and the deployment of adequate security personnel to maintain order and respond to emergencies. The state government has also asked the divisional commissioners of both Garhwal and Kumaon to extend full cooperation in preparing and executing the plan. Authorities have also been directed to prioritise the removal of illegal encroachments along pilgrimage routes to ensure unobstructed access. For enhancing safety at prominent religious sites, chief secretary Anand Bardhan on Tuesday directed officials to initiate expert-led crowd management surveys at temples with high footfall. Bardhan said that in the first phase, experts in crowd management and civil engineering would analyse five major temples, Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi, Neelkanth Mahadev, Kainchi Dham, and Purnagiri, which witness massive pilgrim gatherings, especially on auspicious days. "To ensure seamless coordination and implementation, the divisional commissioners of Kumaon and Garhwal will act as nodal officers for their respective regions. They will supervise the on-ground execution of expert recommendations, including structural and operational improvements at temple premises," Bardhan said. Uttarakhand has recorded similar stampedes in the past as well. On 15th July, 1996, during the Somvati Amavasya bath at Haathi Bridge near Har-Ki-Pauri, 21 pilgrims lost their lives in a stampede. Another similar incident took place on 14th April, 2010, during the Mahakumbh's royal bath day, when a stampede at Birla Ghat Bridge claimed seven lives....