Speed up development plan for Nashik Kumbh Mela: Maha CM
Mumbai, Aug 7
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed all government departments to expedite infrastructure works under the Rs 34,732‑crore development plan for the upcoming Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, stressing that delays will not be tolerated.
Chairing a review meeting in Mumbai, CM Fadnavis instructed officials to eliminate work‑deferral attitudes and execute all planned projects within designated timelines, ensuring complete transparency and quality.
Terming the current progress unsatisfactory, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for enhanced speed and inter‑departmental synergy. He announced that a follow‑up review meeting will be held in one month, where tangible and qualitative progress must be demonstrated on the ground.
The Chief Minister ordered the Nashik Municipal Commissioner to patch potholes and finish ongoing roadworks immediately. Strict penalties must be imposed on contractors who fail to meet deadlines. Mahanagar Gas Company was instructed to coordinate with the Nashik Municipal Corporation to resolve pending gas connection works without causing inconvenience to citizens.
CM Fadnavis said that priority focus should be on completing the Nashik Ring Road, establishing Sadhugram, upgrading railway stations, deploying 4,500 special State Transport (ST) buses, and setting up extensive parking networks to accommodate an estimated 12 crore devotees.
Under the Digital Kumbh framework, CM Fadnavis mandated the integration of modern technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants (Kumbhdoot), Digital Twin modelling, smart parking management, facial recognition/missing person tracing systems, and an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) for real‑time crowd and security management.
To ensure a clean, green, and plastic‑free event, thousands of temporary toilets, waste bins, changing rooms, and a massive sanitation workforce will be deployed. Additionally, skill development programmes will train thousands of local youth in tourism, hospitality, healthcare, and disaster management to boost employment during the mega event, said the CM.
CM Fadnavis set a firm deadline of March 2027 for the completion of all land acquisition, ring road construction, Sadhugram setup, and major civic amenities, making them fully operational by April 2027. He called upon the Central and State Governments, Indian Railways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and local administrative bodies to work in complete alignment.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Digital Kumbh with AI and facial recognition sounds impressive, but I hope they also focus on basic things like clean drinking water and proper sanitation. What's the point of having smart parking if the roads leading to it are full of potholes? Trusting the CM's deadline of March 2027, but we've seen such promises before. Let's see the actual ground work.
Good move by CM Fadnavis! 👍 The ring road is long overdue for Nashik. Also the skill development programmes for local youth is a smart idea. This way the local population will benefit from the Kumbh economically. But they should also involve local spiritual leaders and akhadas in the planning process. Kumbh is not just about infrastructure, it's about faith.
As someone from the West who witnessed the last Kumbh, this modernisation is very welcome. The facial recognition for missing persons will be a game-changer. In 2015, I saw families frantically looking for elderly members in the crowd. The Integrated Command Centre is exactly what a mega event like this needs. Kudos to the Maharashtra government!
Rs 34,732 crore is a huge amount. I just hope there's proper transparency in how it's spent. The CM mentioned penalties for contractors who delay, and that's essential. Nashik's roads have been in shambles for years. Also, Mahanagar Gas should sort out the pending connections quickly. Citizens shouldn't suffer because of red tape. Let the review meetings actually produce results, not just PowerPoint presentations!
Impressive planning for a massive gathering. The plastic-free
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