3 min readLucknowSep 29, 2023 01:09 AM IST
First published on: Sep 29, 2023 at 01:08 AM IST
Aiming to make Mahakumbh 2025 a historical event, the Uttar Pradesh government will set up a “tent city” spread over 25 hectares with a capacity of 2,000 luxury beds, the tender for which will be floated on Friday.
Officials said the tender would enable developers to bid for 10 different plots of 2.5 hectares each with each plot having a capacity of 200 beds. Each plot will provide different luxury accommodations — villas, super deluxe and deluxe room facilities — to visitors.
The government is also contemplating providing facilities like sleeping pods, container accommodation, and water and adventure sports, among others, to give visitors, especially younger tourists, an innovative experience, they said.
The government is expecting over 40 crore pilgrims to visit Mahakumbh, which takes place every 12 years.
The last Mahakumbh had taken place in 2013 during the reign of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in the state. The 45-day event saw a footfall of about 12 crore pilgrims, officials said. The 2019 Ardha Kumbh, which takes place every six years, had witnessed nearly 24 crore people visiting the mela.
According to officials, in 2019, tent facilities with 1,200 beds were developed, which has now been increased to 2,000 beds in the first phase. The facility can be expanded further, depending on developers’ response.
The government has earmarked a Rs 2,500 crore budget for the event to expedite preparations at different levels, officials said.
“The tender will be floated on Friday. We have decided to develop a tent city on 10 plots of 2.5 hectares each. Every plot will have 200 beds with all the required amenities. Our target is to develop accommodation with 2,000 beds in the first phase,” said Ashwani Kumar Pandey, Managing Director of the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, the nodal agency which will be floating the tender for the development of the tent city in Prayagraj.
Pandey said the tender has been made flexible to accommodate different players having experience not just in developing tent cities but also in hospitality and other allied industries. The tent city is expected to accommodate guests for about 2 months.
“In the next phase, we are planning to explore innovative ideas like sleeping pods, container accommodation, etc., and providing water and adventure sports facilities,” said Pandey, adding that they are also exploring facilities like All-Terrain Vehicles, popularly known as ATV bikes, which can move on sand as well as road.
In 2025, different “snans” (holy baths), including six major “snans”, will take place during the 45-day event starting from January 13.
Over 40 crore pilgrims are expected to visit Mahakumbh, which takes place every 12 years. (Express File Photo) 
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