₹22,181 Crore Approved for 2027 Trimbak–Nashik Kumbh Mela, Says CM Fadnavis

Mumbai, March 2026 : Devendra Fadnavis said the upcoming Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela in 2027 should be organised in a way that attracts attention from across the world.

Chairing a meeting of the Kumbh Mela Apex Committee at the state legislature complex, the Chief Minister approved development works worth ₹22,181 crore for preparations related to the event. The approved works include ₹5,140 crore for the first phase and ₹17,041 crore for the second phase.

Fadnavis said millions of devotees from India and abroad will visit Trimbakeshwar and Nashik for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027. He noted that every pilgrim visiting the event carries with them an impression of India and Maharashtra, making it essential to organise the festival successfully and on a global scale.

He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone deliberately creating obstacles or causing delays in the ongoing or proposed development works related to the Kumbh Mela.

The meeting was attended by several ministers and public representatives, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Girish Mahajan, Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale and Pratap Sarnaik, along with local legislators and civic officials.

The Chief Minister directed authorities to ensure fair compensation to farmers for land acquired for infrastructure projects related to the Kumbh Mela. He also said that road works for the Nashik ring road should begin once 50 per cent of the required land acquisition is completed.

Emphasising the importance of sanitation during the mega religious gathering, Fadnavis said high-quality toilet facilities must be constructed. He also instructed officials to strengthen railway infrastructure in the Nashik region and examine the possibility of including Niphad Railway Station in the development plan.

The Chief Minister noted that pilgrims visiting the Kumbh Mela are likely to travel to nearby religious destinations such as Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur. He directed officials to improve the road connectivity between Shirdi and Nashik to facilitate travel.

He also stressed the need for strong mobile communication networks so that devotees do not face connectivity issues during the festival. Infrastructure improvements at key junctions, including Dwarka Junction in Nashik, should be carried out with integrated planning.

Fadnavis further instructed authorities to ensure that the waters of the Godavari River and the sacred Kushavarta tank in Trimbakeshwar remain clean during the Kumbh Mela.

He also directed officials to accelerate the Ram Kal Path project, complete optical fibre infrastructure in the city, and upgrade non-functional CCTV cameras under the Smart City initiative.

To manage the expected crowds during the sacred bathing days, authorities were asked to explore using spaces in colleges for parking and police deployment. The Chief Minister also suggested providing skill training to around 2,000–4,000 local youth so they can work as volunteers during the Kumbh Mela.

Additionally, he recommended involving women’s self-help groups in business activities related to the event by developing appropriate business models.

A presentation on the preparations was made by Shekhar Singh, Commissioner of the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and other top bureaucrats, also attended the meeting.