Indian state Uttar Pradesh expects nearly 15 cr pilgrims to visit Prayagraj Kumbh this January

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

The  state government  of Uttar Pradesh is expecting a large footfall of pilgrims from across the country, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and pilgrims and visitors from abroad for nearly two months long Kumbh, one of the largest religious congregations on the banks of the Ganga River, commencing at Prayagraj (old Allahabad) from January 15 and lasts till March 4, 2019.

According to Suresh Rana, Minister for Sugar Development, Mills and Industrial Development, Uttar Pradesh,  the government expects nearly 15 crore pilgrims to visit Prayagraj for the Kumbh this year.

Suresh Rana said that elaborate preparations have been made by the government to make the Kumbh visit a spiritually fulfilling one for the pilgrims.

The Infrastructure in the North Indian city, Prayagraj has been revamped with an estimated investment of INR 4,200 cr.  This is three times more than what has been spent during the last Kumbh, he said.

A number of over-bridges and underpasses have been built and 250 km of roads have been completed around the city to make the move seamless for visitors, he said.

Giving an overview of the arrangements, Awanish Kumar Awasthy, Additional Chief Secretary – Tourism, Information & Religious Affairs, UP said that the city will be accessible by all means of transport – water, air, road, and rail.

There will be flight connectivity to the city from other Indian cities like Delhi, Bangalore and Jaipur.  For the first time, Indian Inland Waterways Authority has set up five jetties in the Kumbh Mela area. These jetties will facilitate operation of large cruises and motor boats in Prayagraj for the first time, he said.  A tent city has been set up in the city to take care of the accommodation.  There will be facilities for all kinds of tourists at the Mela area.

Awasthy said that there is a fully integrated Command and Control system in place to ensure safety and security during the Kumbh in the city.  He said that the security agencies will use Artificial Intelligence enabled tools for crowd management.  There will be special emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene at the Kumbh, he added.  A record number of toilets have been set up in the Mela area, he added.

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