Dehradun, April 20 (IANS): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat paid a visit to the Badrinath shrine on Monday and took stock of the "Char Dham Yatra" preparations, an official told IANS.

The yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the four Hindu religious shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.

He said the snow having been cleared, the yatra pathway has been opened and assured locals that a permanent solution for landslide-prone areas would be ensured within two years by constructing a tunnel in Lambagar.

Rawat also directed officials to prepare a blue print for constructing a safety wall in Bamnigaun and open the road which has been obstructed by a boulder in Marwari area of Joshimath.

"Char Dham Yatra is the backbone of the economy of the state. Government has put all its efforts to conduct the yatra smoothly," he told reporters.

The chief minister announced free food (bhandara) for all pilgrims coming for the Char Dham Yatra.

Under this plan, free meals would be provided for devotees on April 21 when the gateway to Gangotri and Yamunotri open, in Kedarnath shrine on April 23 and 24, and in Badrinath shrine on April 25 and 26.