Enhanced Facilities Attract Visitors Year-Round
Even though the Maha Kumbh Mela officially concluded on February 26, devotees continue to gather in large numbers at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Officials have decided to retain several infrastructural arrangements throughout the year to accommodate ongoing visitor influx.
Neeraj Kesariwani, a resident from Prayagraj's Colonelganj locality, visited the Sangam recently. Sharing his experience, he remarked, “We couldn’t visit the Maha Kumbh due to the massive crowd, which was disappointing. However, the pleasant evening weather and the LED lights adorning the Sangam area make it feel like the fair is still going on.”
Visitors Who Missed Maha Kumbh Now Experiencing the Serenity of Sangam
Many people who avoided attending the Maha Kumbh due to heavy crowds are now seizing the opportunity to visit the Sangam area. Among them is Dr Deeksha from Delhi, who expressed, "We hesitated to come earlier due to reports of overcrowding. Now, having taken a holy dip at the Sangam, I feel blessed. The only regret is that we missed the sight of Naga Sadhus."
Dr Deeksha praised the beautification initiatives undertaken by the state government, noting, "The entire city of Prayagraj looks splendid with its well-maintained and decorated surroundings."
Ongoing Dismantling and Retention of Infrastructure
During a recent visit to the former Maha Kumbh Mela site, a correspondent observed workers actively dismantling temporary structures across the Triveni Sangam, Arail Ghat, and Jhunsi areas.
Mela Officer Vijay Kiran Anand confirmed that due to the tremendous number of devotees who visited during Maha Kumbh, certain amenities such as LED lighting, changing rooms, and well-maintained ghats will be retained throughout the year. He added that all temporary tents would be completely removed within two weeks. Pontoon bridges, numbering 30 with 3,600 pontoons in total, will be partially retained for the annual Magh Mela, while the remaining pontoons will be redistributed to other districts.
Infrastructure Investments to Boost Tourism
Highlighting infrastructural developments, Superintending Engineer (Maha Kumbh), Manoj Gupta, revealed substantial investments made to enhance visitor experience. A total of 485 designer streetlights were installed at a cost of Rs 8 crore, accompanied by more than 40,000 rechargeable bulbs and around 48,000 LED lights, providing continuous illumination.
To ensure uninterrupted power supply, authorities established 85 substations of 400 kV, 14 substations of 250 kV, and 128 substations of 100 kV.
Record-Breaking Participation at Maha Kumbh 2025
This year's Maha Kumbh Mela, spanning 4,000 hectares, witnessed approximately 66 crore devotees from January 13 to February 26, 2025. High-profile dignitaries including India's President, Prime Minister, and various international leaders attended the grand event.
Indian Railways dedicated approximately Rs 5,000 crore towards infrastructural improvements, building over 21 flyovers and underpasses and operating around 16,000 special trains to accommodate nearly 50 million passengers. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Roadways ran a record 8,850 buses during the festival period.
For sanitation management, over 150,000 temporary toilets were maintained by 15,000 sanitation workers, complemented by around 2,000 Ganga Seva volunteers ensuring cleanliness along the ghats.
Administrative Measures and Security Setup
The Maha Kumbh area, designated as "Mahakumbh Nagar," was officially established as the 76th district of Uttar Pradesh on December 1, 2024. This administrative arrangement will remain effective until March 31, 2025. Managed by a dedicated district magistrate, the district also had the support of three additional district magistrates, 28 sub-divisional magistrates, one tehsildar, and 24 naib tehsildars.
For ensuring the safety of visitors, authorities set up comprehensive security measures, including 56 police stations, 155 police outposts, a dedicated cyber cell, a women's police station, and three water police stations.
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