Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 19 Jun: With the 2025 Kanwad Mela drawing near, preparations are in full swing as officials brace for an estimated footfall of over seven crore devotees. A high-level meeting was convened at the CCR Tower here, today, jointly chaired by Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey and IG Rajeev Swarup. The District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, and heads of key departments were also in attendance.
Emphasis was laid on ensuring core infrastructure needs such as sanitation, street lighting, additional public toilets, drinking water facilities, and traffic regulation during the Kanwad Yatra period. Strict instructions were also issued to complete all groundwork within the stipulated deadlines. Medical preparedness was also discussed, with directives to reserve beds in major private hospitals and nursing homes alongside government facilities for emergencies.
Budget allocation featured prominently in the discussions, with calls for the prompt disbursal of funds to concerned departments. Each department has reportedly been allocated a budget between Rs 12 to Rs 13 crores to ensure seamless planning and execution. Work on the critical hill bypass route is already underway.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also expected to soon conduct a personal review of the preparations in the coming days, signalling the administration’s serious approach towards the mega event.
Pandey claimed before the media later that all the departments concerned are working in coordination to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience. He acknowledged the scale of the gathering poses logistical challenges but also expressed confidence in the state’s readiness to host the spiritual congregation smoothly.
