‘12-15 crore pilgrims expected during Magh Mela’: UP CM Adityanath reviews prep in Prayagraj

The Magh Mela, one of the big religious events after Mahakumbh, is an annual pilgrimage in Prayagraj where devotees bathe at the Sangam on auspicious dates. It is held every year during the Hindu month of Magh, while the Maha Kumbh is held once every 12 years.

During the review meeting, the CM informed that the bathing dates are arriving 15 days earlier this time. The first ‘Snan’ (holy dip) will be on Paush Purnima on January 3, while the second will be on Makar Sankranti on January 15, he said.

The third holy bath will be on Mauni Amavasya on January 18, the fourth on Basant Panchami (January 23), the fifth on Maghi Purnima (February 1) and the sixth on Mahashivratri (February 15), he added.

From January 3 to February 1, around 20–25 lakh Kalpavasis will reside at the Mela premises, informed the CM.

“We estimate that during the one-and-a-half month-long Magh Mela, 12-15 crore pilgrims, including the 20-25 lakh Kalpvasis, will take part in it,” Yogi said. “We aim to ensure the Magh Mela is conducted with full grandeur and divinity,” he added.

The CM said that the Magh Mela is being set up across 800 hectares with seven sectors created to manage the massive influx of visitors. To streamline vehicular movement, 42 parking zones have been identified for devotees arriving from different routes.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that compared to 2024, the scope of the Mela has been “significantly expanded”, benefitting from the organisational experience of the recent Maha Kumbh.

He also outlined the responsibilities assigned to multiple departments, including Irrigation Department managing flood control measures and ensuring at least 10,000 cusecs of clean water flow during the Mela while Namami Gange’s responsibility is for water purity.

The Power Corporation, the CM said, has been given the task of installation of 47 km HT and 360 km LT lines and 25 temporary substations to ensure uninterrupted electricity.

The PWD has been tasked with construction of seven pontoon bridges and laying 160 km of chequered plates for internal routes. Jal Nigam is laying 242-km-long drinking water pipeline and 85-km sewer line, ensuring “not even a single drop of sewer water enters the Ganga or Yamuna”, asserted the CM.

The state government is setting up two 20-bed hospitals, 12 Primary Health Centres, a vector control unit, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic dispensaries and 50 ambulances for emergency response.

The Urban Development Department has started installing 25,000 toilets, 8,000 dustbins, 10 lakh garbage liner bags, and 20 suction vehicles, with 3,000 sanitation workers to maintain cleanliness round-the-clock. DGP Headquarters has been developing infrastructure to ensure safety and crowd control which include setting up 17 temporary police stations and 42 police outposts.

Additionally, seven fire stations with 20 fire tenders, 20 fire watchtowers, 1 water police station, 4 sub water police control rooms and 8 km deep-water barricading will be established in the Mela area.

The procedure for deployment of police personnel has already begun as Additional SPs, COs, inspectors, and other staff have to be given posting to man the infrastructure, according to a government statement. Around 3,800 buses will operate during the Mela, including 3,000 State Transport Corporation buses. According to the statement, 75 shuttle buses will run inside the Mela grounds. Electric buses will operate between the city and the Mela and 200 buses will remain in reserve. For crowd monitoring and incident reporting, the process to install 400 AI-enabled CCTV cameras has also started. A large “Tent City” is also under construction to accommodate the devotees, the CM was updated by the officials during the meeting.

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