“Mahakumbh is a great opportunity to introduce the world to Sanatan Indian culture” : CM Yogi.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that every effort be made to ensure the upcoming Prayagraj Mahakumbh sets a benchmark for cleanliness, convenience, and security. He emphasized that Mahakumbh 2025 is a prime opportunity to showcase Sanatan Indian culture to the world, enhancing the global image of both Uttar Pradesh and India. The Chief Minister urged everyone to contribute their best to the event’s successful organization.

On Monday, the Chief Minister held a meeting with various departments involved in the management of Mahakumbh to review the preparations and provide necessary guidelines. During the meeting, the Principal Secretary of Urban Development, the Kumbh Mela Officer, and officials from the Police Department updated the Chief Minister on the progress made so far. The major guidelines issued by the Chief Minister include:

After a 12-year gap, the holy occasion of Maha Kumbh will return to the Triveni banks in Prayagraj in 2025. The whole world is eager to experience this intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Under the guidance of the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we successfully organized the Kumbh in 2019, setting a high standard. This time, the expectations are even higher. Keeping in mind the faith, expectations and aspirations of the common people, the event should be organized in accordance with the dignity and importance of Maha Kumbh. Once again, we must demonstrate our capabilities through exceptional teamwork.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is scheduled to be held from  January 13, 2025, to February 26, 2025. To ensure the convenience of saints, bathers, Kalpvasis, devotees, tourists, and others, Maha Kumbh 2025 will be organized in a significantly larger complex compared to 2019. Last time, the fair  covered 3200 hectares; this time, it will span an area of more than 4000 hectares. Consequently, the infrastructure such as parking facilities, pontoon bridges, number of bathing ghats, street lighting, and toilets must be increased accordingly to meet the anticipated demand.

During the 45-day period from January 13, 2025, to February 26, 2025, several major bathing dates including Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Purnima, and Mahashivratri will occur at Maha Kumbh. Apart from daily devotees and tourists, Kalpvasis will also be present. It is crucial to make appropriate arrangements to ensure their safety, and convenience, and meet their specific needs.

Traffic and parking management are crucial aspects of efficient planning. A more effective strategy should be devised for both the fair area and Prayagraj city. It is essential to ensure that parking locations within the fair area are no more than 5 kilometers from Sangam.

Beautification efforts are currently underway on 7 riverfront roads, 14 railway overbridges (ROBs), and 7 historic ghats in Prayagraj. Construction of six lane bridge is also going on. It is imperative that all these projects are completed by October without fail. The responsible departments must maintain continuous oversight, as well as ensure high standards and timely completion of projects.

Prayagraj Development Authority should continue the anti-encroachment campaign. The work of widening and beautification of roads should be completed on time. Roadside facade development should be completed by September.

To ensure convenience of devotees attending the Maha Kumbh and tourists from across the country and the globe, seamless connectivity via road, rail, and air is essential to facilitate smooth movement to the fair area. The Transport Department should arrange for more than 7000 buses, while the Urban Development Department should provide a significant number of electric shuttle buses. The construction of the new airport terminal must be completed by October, ensuring that travel from the airport to the fair area takes no more than 30 to 40 minutes.

Maha Kumbh is a symbol of India’s ancient culture, and the entire city should be adorned in a manner befitting its dignity. Stories and symbols from the Sanatan culture and related to Kumbh should be prominently displayed. Kumbh logos should be prominently showcased at intersections, and efforts should be made to create theme-based gates and pillars along with installing lights throughout the city.

The cleanliness of Prayagraj Kumbh 2019 left a lasting impression on every visitor. Similar efforts must be made for Maha Kumbh 2025. It is imperative to ensure the event is free from banned polythene with determined collaboration with the public. To achieve cleanliness in every ward and locality of Prayagraj, Mohalla Swachhata Samitis should be formed, starting efforts immediately and increasing public awareness. Everyone’s participation is crucial to making Prayagraj, including the fair area, a model of cleanliness. Additionally, planting trees with tree guards along the city’s main roads should be prioritized, aiming towards a ‘Green Prayagraj -Green Maha Kumbh.’

Considering the anticipated influx of devotees and tourists during Maha Kumbh, arrangements should be made for 150,000 toilets in the fair area. More than 10,000 employees will be needed for their regular cleaning. It is crucial to ensure timely payment of honorariums to these employees. Sufficient employees should be deployed for the cleanliness of the fair area.

Efforts must be made to ensure the cleanliness of the Ganga throughout its entire stretch from Bijnor to Ballia. No drains or sewage should discharge into the river. It is crucial to activate Ganga Swachh Samiti in all relevant districts alongside installing sewage treatment plants. Villages should refrain from dumping garbage into the river, and measures must be taken to prevent disposal of dead animals into the Ganga.

The completion of work on Akshayvat, Saraswati Koop, and Patalpuri Corridor should be expedited. Expected cooperation is being received from the army. Maintain constant coordination with them. Projects initiated by the Tourism Department at Nagvasuki Temple, Shringaverpur Dham, Mankameshwar Temple, Dwadashamadhav Temple, and Alopshankari Temple should also be completed within the stipulated  timeframe.

Keeping the convenience and safety of devotees and tourists in mind, appropriate arrangements must be made for their accommodation. High-quality pandals should be set up for cultural events, ensuring a pleasant experience for the devotees and tourists. Additionally, camps should be prepared to accommodate special and VIP guests during the event.

Policemen should exhibit courteous and respectful behavior towards every devotee and tourist attending Maha Kumbh. They should cooperate with the public and undergo counseling before deployment. Police personnel must remain vigilant round the clock. Effective crowd management is crucial during the event with a foolproof action plan. This should include provisions for AI-based crowd monitoring, crowd density analysis, incident reporting systems, a dedicated call center, a lost and found center, fire safety measures, CCTV camera surveillance, and deployment of water police as needed. Additional manpower should be arranged where necessary to ensure robust security measures across all parameters.

Railways will be the primary mode of transport for devotees attending Maha Kumbh, and coordination with the railway authorities is crucial. If stations/platforms are pre-determined for state-wise trains, it will be convenient. This should also be publicized. In case any department encounters challenges in organizing Maha Kumbh, immediate contact can be made with the Chief Minister’s office for prompt resolution.