By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel amid rising global energy prices appears to have made no impact on travel patterns, especially in Uttarakhand where the Chardham Yatra continues to witness massive pilgrim rush.
Addressing a public gathering in Hyderabad on May 10, Modi urged the countrymen to use fuel “with great restraint” and adopt measures such as public transport, carpooling and work-from-home practices in view of the continuing tension over Iran and pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves. The Prime Minister also appealed to people to avoid unnecessary foreign travel, promote domestic tourism and shift towards electric vehicles wherever possible.
Following the appeal, several BJP-ruled states announced symbolic austerity measures. Chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh reduced the size of their official convoys, while Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged residents to conserve fuel and reduce non-essential consumption.
However, despite the government’s appeal for fuel conservation, tourism activity in Uttarakhand — particularly along the Char Dham circuit comprising temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri has remained largely unaffected.
Long traffic queues continue to be reported on highways leading to the Himalayan shrines as thousands of pilgrims arrive daily in private vehicles, taxis and buses. Hotels and guest houses in major pilgrimage towns are witnessing high occupancy levels, while helicopter services operating to Kedarnath are also running near full capacity, according to tourism stakeholders.
Travel operators say that religious tourism has become emotive and spiritually important for many families, making it less sensitive to government appeals for reduced fuel consumption. Improved highways under the Char Dham road project and better connectivity have also encouraged more people to undertake pilgrimages despite concerns over rising fuel costs.
According to latest official figures, there has been considerable jump in the pilgrim rush since May 10 when Modi made the appeal. On May 10, 68579 pilgrims visited the Chardham shrines. But on May 16, the figure rose to 79041 registering a rise of more than 15 percent.
Tourism industry representatives believe Modi’s message has generated awareness about responsible energy use but has not translated into any significant reduction in road travel. Many tourists are instead opting for shorter vacations or carpooling while continuing with their travel plans.
Analysts say the Prime Minister’s appeal was intended more as a precautionary economic message than a restrictive policy. With India heavily dependent on imported crude oil, the government remains concerned about the impact of geopolitical tensions on fuel prices and inflation.