Maharashtra CM Urges AI Integration for Kumbh Mela 2027 Planning

Mumbai, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, has urged the administration to establish a dedicated Kumbh Mela Authority for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela set to take place in 2027 at Nashik - Trimbakeshwar.

During the meeting, he emphasized that this Simhastha Kumbh should be referred to as a 'Digital Technology Kumbh,' and plans should be developed accordingly.

Fadnavis insisted that to ensure the Simhastha Kumbh Mela is managed efficiently, there needs to be coordination among all systems and swift work completion through the establishment of a Kumbh Mela Authority.

He stated, “A law for the Kumbh Mela Authority should be enacted. The required personnel for the Kumbh Mela must be organized under this authority. For the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, it is imperative to leverage artificial intelligence and cutting-edge digital technologies. AI should be extensively utilized for crowd management, traffic management, and surveillance. For routes with high foot traffic, digital displays related to the Kumbh should be established to assist in managing crowds and aiding devotees in saving time. A competition should be organized to design the logo for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela,” he added.

Fadnavis mentioned that an initial draft plan for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela is already in place. However, considering the crowd experience in Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh, he instructed that planning should be made for a crowd size four to five times larger than what is anticipated in Nashik for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

“The plan must cover crowd management, the number of ghats, roads, as well as railway and air transport. The Nashik-Trimbak road should be widened by 24 meters. Moreover, the possibility of establishing a tent city along this road should be evaluated. All roadwork in Nashik city needs to be finalized. Instructions were also given to conduct a drone survey to explore the development of a riverfront road along the Godavari,” he stated.

The Chief Minister noted that it is likely that devotees will access Nashik and Trimbakeshwar via routes from Mumbai, Jawhar, Gujarat, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Shirdi, Dhule, Pune, and Mumbai.

“Hence, the roads on these routes should be reinforced. Parking amenities should be established along these routes. During the Kumbh, vehicles must be prohibited within Nashik city. An e-bus service should be arranged for devotees from the parking areas to the city, with departures every three minutes. Additionally, arrangements should be made for managing passengers at airports like Shirdi, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Ojhar,” he explained.

He also urged the administration to expand the capacity for flights at Shirdi Airport and enhance facilities at Ojhar Airport to accommodate more landings.

Furthermore, he instructed the exploration of the possibility of constructing helipads in Nashik city.

Fadnavis also recommended creating facilities at stations such as Nashik Road, Igatpuri, and Kasara for devotees traveling by train in cooperation with the Railway Administration.

“Devotees attending the Simhastha Kumbh Mela often visit nearby sacred sites like Trimbakeshwar, Shirdi, Wani, Shani Shingnapur, and Mangitungi. Therefore, a corridor for these religious sites should be developed. The work on the Ram Kal Path in Nashik must be completed by next year. Additionally, the preservation of the Trimbakeshwar Temple should be prioritized. Beautification of the Kushavarta and other kunds in Trimbakeshwar must also be executed to enhance the experience for devotees,” he mentioned.

He concluded by directing the immediate removal of encroachments surrounding Nashik and Trimbakeshwar temples.