Nashik, As lakhs of devotees are expected to congregate in Nashik for Kumbh Mela next year, authorities say they were racing against time considering the scale of infrastructure development, and adopted a holistic approach that combines the ongoing work with heritage conservation and technology-enabled management systems.
Talking to PTI, Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh said preparations for the Kumbh Mela are progressing at a rapid pace with authorities deploying technology-driven crowd management systems, undertaking large-scale infrastructure projects and focusing on long-term urban development.
The formal Kumbh cycle will commence with Dhwajarohan on October 31 this year. The three main Shahi Snans will take place in 2027 - on August 2, August 31 and September 11.
The Maharashtra government expects around 12 crore devotees to visit Nashik and Trimbakeshwar during the Kumbh Mela, widely regarded as the largest religious congregation in the world, with peak footfall estimated at 2.25 crore people during the main Shahi Snan period.
Singh said preparations for the mega religious congregation are being undertaken through a holistic approach that combines infrastructure development, heritage conservation, cultural revival and technology-enabled management systems.
"For the first time, the preparations are truly holistic. It is not just about creating hard infrastructure. We are simultaneously working on permanent infrastructure, heritage conservation, cultural programming, mobility and technology integration," he said.
According to Singh, works of around Rs 16,000-17,000 crore have already commenced, largely focusing on roads and connectivity projects, while the next phase will involve temporary infrastructure, such as tent cities, toilets, changing rooms, parking facilities, barricading and arrangements for Sadhu Gram that will house seers and religious leaders.
"The scale of the work will increase significantly after the monsoon. We are racing against time, but all departments are working in coordination to ensure timely completion of projects," he said.
The commissioner said the preparations are aligned with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' vision of transforming Nashik into a major destination for investments, industries and educational institutions.
Projects such as the Nashik Ring Road, Nashik-Chennai Expressway connectivity, links with the Samruddhi Mahamarg, railway station upgrades and airport expansion are expected to create long-term benefits beyond the Kumbh, he said.
Railway infrastructure is being strengthened through the development of stations, while the airport is being upgraded with additional apron facilities, aerobridges and taxiways, he added.
On peak days, the railways are expected to operate up to 150 special trains, including 75 northbound and 75 southbound services, Singh said.
Authorities are developing religious circuits linked to the Ramayana and Jyotirling pilgrimage routes, while restoration work is underway at key sites under the Ram Kalpath project, including Ramkund, Sita Gufa, Lakshman Kund and associated heritage structures.
The State Archaeology Department is also restoring around 10 historic temples in and around Panchavati.
In Trimbakeshwar, work has commenced on the Shiv Darshan Path of Jyotirling project, while eight historic kunds and several temples are being restored.
Authorities have also undertaken encroachment removal drives around prominent religious sites.
"There used to be an 80-room chawl adjacent to the Kalaram temple. The Nashik Municipal Corporation shifted residents to alternative accommodation and cleared the structure. Similarly, 32 shops located next to the ASI-protected wall near Trimbakeshwar temple have been removed and their owners are being rehabilitated under a redevelopment project," Singh said.
An ambitious project is also underway at Anjaneri, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, while restoration work is being carried out on the Brahmagiri Parikrama route.
On the environmental front, four major sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 474 MLD are under construction to ensure that only treated water enters the Godavari river. Additionally, 19 nalas are being tapped and diverted to treatment facilities.
Separate sewerage projects are also being implemented in Trimbakeshwar to prevent untreated sewage from entering water bodies, Singh said.
He said the authorities are developing an integrated artificial intelligence (AI)-based monitoring system to assist crowd management, mobility planning, health surveillance and sanitation monitoring.
Experts from IIT Bombay, IIM Nagpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Tirupati have been engaged to support planning and implementation.
"We want technology to act as an enabler for decision-making. The objective is to generate early warnings, identify crowd anomalies and ensure that alerts are translated into action on the ground in real time," Singh said.
As per the estimates, Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are expected to receive around eight crore and four crore pilgrims, respectively, during the Kumbh period. To ease pressure on the three main bathing days, authorities have identified 44 additional bathing occasions across the festival duration.
"We are encouraging devotees not to restrict their visit to the three Shahi Snan days. The idea is to distribute the crowd over a longer duration to ensure safer and smoother management," Singh added.
