Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Singh, announced that about 35 crore (350 million) people are expected to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela this year near Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers meet. During the special day known as Mauni Amavasya, he expects around 4-5 crore (40-50 million) devotees.
The budget for this 45-day event is around ₹7,000 crore (70 billion). This time, the focus is on cleanliness, safety, and using digital technology. In the last Kumbh Mela in 2019, there were 24 crore (240 million) pilgrims. The event area has increased by 25% to about 4,000 hectares, compared to 3,200 hectares in 2019.
Singh explained that they have organized the Mela area into 25 sections this time, up from 20 in 2019, and the length of the bathing areas (ghats) has grown to 12 kilometers, from 8 kilometers earlier. They’ve also increased the parking area to 1,850 hectares, compared to 1,291 hectares in 2019. The spending has doubled from ₹3,500 crore to ₹7,000 crore, enhancing every aspect compared to the past.
Particular attention is being given to the large turnout expected on Mauni Amavasya, as it’s always one of the busiest days. There will be six key dates with high crowds, and the government advises VIPs to avoid these days to reduce congestion.
They anticipate around 15-20 lakh (1.5-2 million) people will stay at the Mela this time, compared to 10 lakh (1 million) before. There will be 30 floating bridges, up from 22 in 2019, and the total road length has increased to over 450 kilometers, from 299 kilometers. The number of streetlights has also shot up to 67,000 from 20,000.
For hygiene, 1.50 lakh (150,000) toilets are being set up, up from 1.14 lakh (114,000) in 2019, and public sleeping areas have grown from 20,000 to 25,000 beds. There will be more police for security this time, with 55 police stations and around 45,000 officers on duty.
To boost safety, they will monitor social media to prevent any issues. There’s good coordination between local and central government agencies. They have also trained volunteers to help during emergencies.
Digitally, the event has improved since last time, with Integrated Control and Command Centres set up and more than 3,000 cameras installed for crowds. Digital bookings for land and services are streamlined.
Many visitors from foreign countries attended the previous Kumbh, and the UP Chief Secretary confirmed that a day for embassy visits is scheduled for January 30.
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