Simhastha Kumbh : Dhwajarohan : A Grand Start of Biggest Spiritual Event

Innovative Planning in Place

Preparing for the global event like Kumbh has not been an easy task for the Nashik administration. But so as to believe Deependra Singh Kushwah, Nashik’s young and dynamic Collector, all the innovative planning is in place. While talking to Organiser he said, “First we have ensured that there will be continuous electricity supply during Kumbh and no load shading or power failure will appear during Kumbh – especially on Parvani (special auspicious dates). For that MSEB has erected two new 33 KV substations in Nashik and one at Tryambak.
He further said, no doubt all the digital initiatives like mobile app, video walls, public address system and CCTV network will require continuous electricity supply, but the most important is the huge crowds running in to lakhs will require the streets and bylanes should be lit up uninterruptedly.
Pilgrims visit Kumbh for holy bath in the Godavari, hence new Ghats are erected – total length of which is four kms, 1290 mtr being the length of the longest Ghat. All Ghats have widened to cope up with huge crowds and beautified with greenery. At Tryambak, new Ghat of one km length was built.  New water filtration plants of 3.4 metric Ltrs per minute have been activated. New overhead water tanks in Nashik and Tryambak have been built. New sewage treatment plants – 1 MLD capacity at Tryambak and three plants of 30 MLD capacities each at Nashik have been also activated to ensure no city sewage runs directly into Holy River. River front and river itself was cleaned twice with huge public participation. 25 thousand of public toilets and urinals are being erected throughout the city as well as in Tryambak.
1500 new signboards are being erected to guide the pilgrims. 14 parking lots at the outskirts of the city and at Anjneri near Tryambak are being prepared. The vehicles of the pilgrims will be stopped at outer parking entry points from one day earlier of each special auspicious date. From there the pilgrims will be transported by three thousand state transport buses to Inner ST stands. From there pilgrims have to walk three kms up to the Ram Ghat area.
He also pointed out that this time, each Ghat is marked and reserved for the pilgrims coming from various directions. No cross movement of public will be allowed in the marked core area of three kms, for security reasons. If people want to visit other Ghat than the marked for them, they have to take the route from the start at outside of the core area.  
And the core area is  also marked as no vehicle zone and administrative routes are identified for admin vehicles and ambulances and VIP movements.
For disaster mitigation, micro level plan has been put up and was rehearsed. 200 plus ambulances and 200 medical teams including that of various NGOs have been put too service. Ambulances have been equiped with GPS enabled GIS service and would be guided through central control rooms or Emergency Operation Centers (EOS). Each plan and activity, actual working, volunteer data base everything is being digitalised. The digital records will be useful for future planning of such events throughout the country. The unique idea of community kitchen for pilgrims is being tried at the Kumbh. In 28 locations, these community kitchens are being managed by petroleum companies, people will be offered gas burners free of charges to prepare their own food. This will avoid any mishaps and hygiene will be maintained as well.
For ensuring uninterrupted communication for public he said, BSNL and some private cellular companies have been told to arrange for trolley mounted cellular towers and around sixty such trolley mounted cell towers are active now. While elaborating all the plans, Shri Kushwah seemed confident that the district administration will be successful in actuating the motto of “Zero Mishap Kumbh”.