Mussoorie, Feb. 18 -- The Uttarakhand government plans to introduce a Rs.10 fee for online Char Dham Yatra registrations via the official portal to tackle rising fake and duplicate bookings, officials said Monday. The official portal opens with the yatra on April 19 (Yamunotri, Gangotri), followed by Kedarnath (April 22) and Badrinath (April 23), officials added. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the yatra is a "lifeline for the state's economy," with safety as the top priority. "All necessary arrangements are being made for the upcoming yatra in consultation with stakeholders," he added. The fee idea surfaced at a Monday meeting at the Char Dham Yatra Transit Camp in Rishikesh, chaired by Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey and IG Garhwal Rajiv Swarup. Representatives from hotel associations, transport unions, and the Dandi-Kandi Association attended the meeting. "To prevent fake registrations, it has been decided to charge a minimum fee of Rs.10," officials said, noting the amount awaits government nod. Arvind Kumar Shrivastava, secretary to the Garhwal commissioner, said a high-level committee under the additional commissioner is finalising the structure. "After the committee submits its report and the government grants approval, the online registration fee is likely to be implemented within a week or two," he added. Hospitality stakeholders endorsed the plan strongly. Shailendra Matura, president of Uttarkashi Hotel Association and Char Dham Hotel Association member, said prior no-shows filled the portal, blocking serious devotees. Hoteliers and tour operators also demanded no pilgrim caps, citing confusion. Commissioner Pandey confirmed no limits this year, but registration remains mandatory for all. The administration seeks a "simple, accessible and transparent" process. A new priority system gives preference to pilgrims booking hotels before registering, aiding coordination. Hoteliers may get portal access links to assist guests. They also pushed for year-round online registration, especially for winter Char Dham abodes. With the April yatra nearing, the government expects a quick final call on the fee....