Maharashtra commences final planning for 2027 Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela

Mumbai: As the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh drew to a close coinciding with the Maha Shivratri festivities, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday commenced its final planning for the 2027 Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela and decided to establish a religious corridor around the pilgrimage town.

To execute various projects, a Kumbh Mela Authority would be set up, the meeting decided.

The Nashik Kumbh Mela is held in Ramkund in Nashik town along the Godavari River and the Kushawart Kund in Trimbakeshwar, which houses one of the 12 jyotirlingas.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over a high-level meeting in Mumbai.

While Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were not present at the meeting, Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, who is the Nashik district Guardian Minister, was present.

“People who visit Nashik city also visit nearby religious places such as Trimbakeshwar, Saptashrungi, Mangi Tungi, Shirdi, Shani Shingnapur among others. Therefore, a corridor for these religious places should be created. The work on the Ram-Lal Path in Nashik should be completed by next year,” Fadnavis told the meeting.

“The preservation work of the Trimbakeshwar Temple should be undertaken. Beautification of the Kushavarta Teerth and other kunds in Trimbakeshwar should be done so that devotees can visit them,” he said, and directed that all encroachments should be removed.

Fadnavis directed that this Simhastha Kumbh should be known as a 'Digital Technology Kumbh', and a plan should be made accordingly.

“For the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, maximum use of artificial intelligence and advanced digital technology should be made. AI technology should be used extensively for crowd management, traffic management, and surveillance. For the roads with high crowd density, digital Kumbh-related displays should be set up to manage the crowd and help devotees save time,” he said.

The data from the 2015 Simhastha Kumbh Mela should be analysed to understand how the next Kumbh Mela can be planned.

During the Simhastha, the water in the Godavari River should flow continuously so that devotees can bathe in clean water, and a plan should be made for this.

“Additionally, land acquisition for the Sadhu Gram, and the establishment of health centers, fire safety facilities, and other amenities at Sadhu Gram and other important locations should be planned,” he said.

The Chief Minister also instructed that a communication system (public address system) be established to quickly disseminate information to the public during the Kumbh.

Fadnavis said that in wake of the crowd situation in Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh, planning be made for four to five times the crowd expected in Nashik for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

“The plan should include crowd management, number of ghats, roads, railway, and air transport. The Nashik-Trimbak road should be widened by 24 meters. Also, the possibility of setting up a tent city along this road should be considered. Road works in Nashik city should be completed. Instructions were also given for conducting a drone survey to assess whether a riverfront road along the Godavari can be developed,” he said.

"For the Simhastha, there is a likelihood that devotees will travel to Nashik and Trimbakeshwar via routes from Mumbai, Jawhar, Gujarat, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Shirdi, Dhule, Pune, and Mumbai. Therefore, the strengthening of roads on these routes should be done. Parking facilities for vehicles should be created on these routes."

"During the Kumbh, vehicles should not be allowed within Nashik city. An e-bus service should be provided for devotees from the parking lots to the city. These e-buses should depart every three minutes. Moreover, arrangements should be made for passenger management at airports such as Shirdi, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Ojhar,” he said.

Among those present in the meeting were Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Nashik Divisional Commissioner Dr Praveen Gedam, District Collector Jalaj Sharma, Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri, and secretaries from various departments.