Dehradun: In a high-level review meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan directed officials to submit a comprehensive action plan for Kumbh Mela 2027 by the end of August. The meeting saw participation from senior officials of key departments during the High Powered Committee and Expenditure Finance Committee discussions.
Priority on Permanent and Essential Works
Chief Secretary Bardhan emphasized that works of permanent nature and those critical to the successful hosting of Kumbh 2027 must be prioritized. He instructed the Mela Adhikari to compile a detailed and categorized list of all proposed works—both temporary and permanent—and present a consolidated action plan without delay.
“Prepare a comprehensive action plan with works of utmost necessity marked as high priority. There should be no delays,” said Bardhan.
Focus on Ghats: Quality, Greenery & Devotee Comfort
A key area of focus was the construction of ghats. The Chief Secretary directed that green landscaping be integrated wherever possible to enhance aesthetics and environmental sustainability. Additional amenities such as standardized stairs, changing rooms, and benches are to be included to ensure safety and comfort for devotees.
He further stressed the timely completion of ghat construction, especially during scheduled canal closures, to avoid delays.
Bridge Safety, Traffic Flow, and Crowd Management Plans Mandated
To ensure public safety, the Chief Secretary ordered immediate safety audits of all bridges within the Kumbh zone. He also directed the preparation of a comprehensive circulation plan for the entire Kumbh area, taking into account peak footfall during major festival dates. Plans for entry and exit at all major points must be finalized and tested ahead of time.
Railway Station Upgrades and Crowd Holding Areas
Communication has begun with the Ministry of Railways regarding capacity enhancement and beautification of stations within and around the Kumbh area. The Chief Secretary proposed the development of holding areas at railway stations to manage influx during peak crowd periods.
Parking Infrastructure: Long-Term and Temporary Plans
In a forward-looking approach, Bardhan instructed officials to:
- Identify and develop new parking areas
- Engage with private landowners for temporary rental-based parking arrangements
- Begin dialogue now to secure agreements well in advance of the event
Expenditure Finance Committee Recommends Key Projects
The Expenditure Finance Committee approved several critical infrastructure projects under the Public Works and Irrigation Departments, including:
Widening and strengthening of the road from Bahadrabad Sidkul (Bhaichara Dhaba) to Shivalik Nagar Chowk via BHEL Barrier No. 6
Road development from Patanjali Yogpeeth to Ferupur via Sahdevpur, Dinarpur, and Subhashgarh
Construction of 600-meter ghat from Amarpur Ghat to Rishikul Bridge on the Upper Ganga Canal
New ghats from Rishikul Bridge to Sakshi Satnam Ghat on the same canal
Senior Officials Present
The meeting was attended by:
- Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram
- Secretary Shailesh Bagauli
- Secretary Nitesh Kumar Jha
- IG Dr. Nilesh Anand Bharane
- Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey
- Commissioner Garhwal Vinay Kumar Pandey
- Mela Adhikari Sonika
Other senior officials
