Preparations for Mahakumbh 2025 are ongoing, with grand infrastructure, security, and digital innovations.
New Delhi: With just 35 days to go, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is fully prepared to host the Mahakumbh Mela on January 13, 2025. This event, set to be the world’s largest gathering, promises to be the most grand and unprecedented in the history of the Kumbh Mela. The Chief Minister is personally overseeing preparations through frequent site visits and meetings, ensuring no detail is overlooked. The event is being organised with an estimated budget of Rs 6,382 crores, of which over Rs 5,600 crores have been already allocated. For the first time, an MoU with Google will integrate the Mela into its navigation system, reflecting the UP government’s commitment to enhancing the experience for devotees.
This Mahakumbh is set to be the largest and grandest event globally, with a scale and budget three times that of the 2013 Kumbh. CM Yogi aims to set new benchmarks in cleanliness, making it the cleanest Kumbh ever. The ‘Swasthya Mahakumbh’ initiative will ensure top-tier healthcare with specialist doctors deployed for the safety of devotees and saints. Additionally, the event will feature a ‘Digital Kumbh’ experience, leveraging advanced technology for navigation and other services. Security is also a top priority, with comprehensive measures in place to ensure a safe and seamless event.
As per the Chief Minister’s directives, preparations for Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj are progressing swiftly to provide a grand experience for saints and devotees from around the world. A dedicated area for seven Akhadas has been established, while nine police stations and five outposts are nearing completion to strengthen security. Luxurious VIP camps, designed to resemble royal palaces with 14×28-foot rooms and modern amenities, will cater to both domestic and international visitors. Grand 100-foot entrance gates showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage will add to the event’s magnificence.
In Arail, work is underway on a new circuit house and three police stations, while developments in the Jhunsi police line and fair area, spanning from Samudra Koop to Sadhu Kuti, are progressing rapidly. Camps for saints and devotees, built with steel frames and iron pipes, focus on aesthetics and structural stability to ensure a comfortable stay. All efforts are on track to meet deadlines and deliver a seamless experience.
During a recent visit to Prayagraj, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of key infrastructure upgrades. Connectivity is being significantly expanded with new four- and six-lane highways, and the Mahakumbh area has been increased from 3,200 to 4,000 hectares, now divided into 25 sectors. To ease access, 1,850 hectares have been set aside for parking, with 7,000 buses transporting visitors from parking zones to the Kumbh area.
Major infrastructure improvements include 14 road overbridges, nine concrete bathing ghats (up from four in 2019), and an extension of temporary ghats from 8 km to 12 km. Transportation will be enhanced with 7,000 eco-friendly electric buses, 550 shuttle buses, and seven new bus stands. The Chief Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to clean the Ganga, noting the return of Gangetic dolphins and the elimination of sewage discharge. Tent accommodations have doubled to 1.6 lakh, while energy efficiency is being prioritised with 67,000 LED street lights, 2,000 solar hybrid lights, and two new substations.
Comprehensive medical facilities
In line with the Chief Minister’s vision, preparations are underway to ensure top-notch medical facilities for Mahakumbh 2025, which expects over 45 crore attendees. A 100-bed hospital is being set up at the Parade Ground in Prayagraj, with specialist doctors from AIIMS Raebareli and the Army Hospital stationed to provide 24/7 care. Additionally, eight 20-bed hospitals, two ICUs with 10 beds each, and a 25-bed hospital with an ICU in Jhunsi are being established to cater to the massive influx of devotees, ensuring seamless healthcare throughout the festival.
Senior Medical Officer Dr Gaurav Dubey confirmed that 70% of the hospital is complete, aiming for readiness before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit on December 13. The hospital will offer separate wards, delivery rooms, emergency care, and advanced diagnostic services.
Technology and Tradition
Following the Chief Minister’s vision of blending heritage with development, Mahakumbh 2025 in will feature a Digital Mahakumbh Experience Centre. This innovative centre will use virtual reality, holograms, and digital projections to showcase the spiritual and mythological legacy of Mahakumbh, offering an immersive experience of traditions like the Samudra Manthan and the history of Prayagraj. Mahakumbh 2025 will also leverage AI, chatbots, and Google Maps for safety and crowd management. The centre will feature unidirectional pathways, real-time monitoring, and a souvenir store to enhance the visitor experience.
During his visit on November 27, the Chief Minister reviewed the centre’s progress, emphasising its role in connecting the new generation with Mahakumbh’s cultural and spiritual significance. The centre will include eight digital galleries, an Immersive Walkway, and a Mystic Walkway, combining advanced technology with the timeless stories of the Triveni Sangam.
Clean and eco-friendly
To ensure a clean and plastic-free Mahakumbh 2025, the Chief Minister reviewed preparations and emphasised the importance of cleanliness. He took a pledge for a clean Mahakumbh and administered an oath to attendees, urging them to avoid single-use plastics and adopt eco-friendly practices like using dona-pattal, kulhars, and cloth bags. He also stressed proper waste disposal and maintaining cleanliness in public and sacred spaces, contributing to the cleanliness of the Ganga and Triveni Sangam.
The CM inaugurated a state-of-the-art Solid Waste Management (SWM) Control Room and Citizen Facilitation Centre at the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation. He also launched the “PMC 24×7” mobile app and an upgraded website to enhance citizen services. These initiatives, in collaboration with Prayagraj Smart City, aim to streamline waste management and provide convenient, efficient access to municipal services.
Google Maps
In a historic move, the Chief Minister attended the MoU signing between the Prayagraj Mela Authority and Google, marking the first-ever integration of a temporary city—Mahakumbh 2025—into Google Maps. This specialised navigation system will help devotees locate key sites, ghats, akhadas, and notable saints within the Mela area. The feature, expected to launch soon, is a first for Google, as it has never offered navigation for temporary events. The Chief Minister praised the initiative, emphasising the role of digital technology in enhancing the Mahakumbh experience, and ensuring seamless navigation for devotees using their mobile devices.
Security
The Yogi Adityanath-led government has unveiled a seven-tier security plan for Mahakumbh 2025, deploying over 37,000 police personnel and advanced technology to ensure the safety of devotees. The fairgrounds will be divided into 10 zones, 25 sectors, 56 police stations, and 155 posts, with special security measures for key sites, bridges, and ghats.
The plan includes 1,378 women police officers focused on protecting women devotees and rapid response teams to handle emergencies. Deployment will include 22,953 officers at the fairgrounds, 6,887 in Prayagraj, 7,771 for the Government Railway Police, and additional personnel for crowd control. This Mahakumbh will have the highest security to date, with 10,000 more officers than previous events. AI-enabled CCTV cameras, facial recognition, and a central Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) will enhance real-time monitoring and coordination.
The Kumbh Mela is held every three years, the Ardhkumbh every six years, and the Mahakumbh every twelve years. The last Maha Kumbh took place in 2013, with the next one set to return in 2025.
With input from Nikita Sareen, senior correspondent, India News.