CM reviews preparations for Haridwar Kumbh 2027
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Sep: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today held a high-level meeting to review the preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 2027. During the meeting, he directed that all preparations for the grand Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2027 be completed on time and that works of a permanent nature be completed by October 2026.
The CM also directed the officials to prioritise and classify the works and said all the departments should work in coordination. He made it clear that organising a magnificent and divine Kumbh is a top priority for the state government. Dhami also stated that all the Mela-related works should take into consideration the expanded area and master plan. He added that the master plan should clearly identify all sectors, routes, parking lots, ghats, and camp sites so that land can be acquired and temporarily used as needed.
The CM also stressed on construction of new ghats and directed expansion of Kangra Ghat, and the repair of existing ghats on time, to reduce crowd pressure. He said that that to ensure the successful completion of the Mela, encroachments on government land and roads should be removed. Dhami further directed that all the works being done by UIIDB in the Haridwar Ganga Corridor be completed on priority, keeping the forthcoming Kumbh in view. He said that the under-construction Bahadrabad-Shyampur bypass should also be completed soon so it can be of maximum benefit during the Kumbh. Similarly, a master plan should be prepared for setting up special tents in Shyampur, Gaindikhat and Chandighat areas. He also stressed on the need to strengthen traffic and parking arrangements in the Kumbh area.
The CM also directed formulating an effective traffic diversion plan and the plan for parking arrangements for the convenience of devotees. He said that in case parking sites are far away, shuttle services should be ensured to bring the pilgrims. He said that internal roads in the Kumbh area also be fixed on time, which will also benefit the local residents. The strengthening of the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi pedestrian routes should also be completed on time.
Dhami said a “Zero Waste Concept” should be adopted for solid waste at the Mela. He directed the officials to ensure adequate arrangements for solid waste management, dustbins, recycling systems, and mobile toilets in the Kumbh area. He also emphasised that there should also be enough pink toilets and changing rooms for the convenience of women devotees. He also directed 24-hour cleaning arrangements at the ghats and along the Ganga riverbanks. At Har Ki Pauri, proper arrangements should be made for the aarti and for devotees to sit.
Dhami instructed the officials to ensure that all security arrangements for devotees during the Kumbh are completed on time. Along with crowd management, traffic control, and parking arrangements, all basic facilities are to be provided at the parking sites. Every ghat would have lifeguards, safety ropes, and motorboats for the safety of devotees. He said special attention should be paid to ensuring that devotees have a good experience in Uttarakhand and that staff behave well with pilgrims. He directed that training for personnel to be deputed for the Mela should begin immediately. Dhami said that health facilities in the Mela area should be strengthened. He also ordered that temporary hospitals, ambulances, and mobile medical teams should be arranged in the area. The maximum use of IT and digital services should be made for Mela management. Mobile apps, helplines, and information centres should be established to provide real-time information to devotees. He instructed the Chief Secretary to review the Kumbh Mela preparations every 15 days.
Among those present in the meeting were MLAs Madan Kaushik, Premchand Agrawal, Adesh Chauhan, Renu Bisht, Ravi Bahadur, Anupama Rawat, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, DGP Deepam Seth, Principal Secretaries RK Sudhanshu, L Fanai and R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli, Nitesh Jha, Dr Pankaj Pandey, Dr R Rajesh Kumar, Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, Yugal Kishore Pant, Mela Officer Sonika, and through virtual mode, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, IG, Garhwal, Rajiv Swaroop and the DMs and SSPs/SPs concerned.
