Nashik: CM Devendra Fadnavis Orders Speedy Completion Of ₹34,732-Crore Kumbh Development Plan

Mumbai/Nashik: With the dates for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik finalised, all departments must ensure that works under the development plan are completed on schedule, with quality and transparency, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed. He called for an end to the tendency to postpone works and instructed officials to accelerate implementation of the ₹34,732-crore development plan for the Kumbh Mela.

A meeting to review preparations for the Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 was held at Sahyadri Guest House under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal, MLAs Devyani Pharande, Seema Hiray, Rahul Dhikale, Saroj Ahire and Hiraman Khoskar, Nashik Mayor Himgauri Aher-Adke, Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council President Triveni Tungar, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and senior officials attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said the current pace of Kumbh Mela works is not satisfactory and every department needs to work faster and in greater coordination. All instructions issued during the meeting must be implemented immediately. He said another review meeting would be held after one month and visible qualitative and physical progress must be achieved by then. Departments should therefore begin preparations for the next review meeting immediately.

Effective Coordination Between Departments Essential

Fadnavis stressed the need for effective coordination among various departments and said no project should be delayed because of a lack of coordination. All concerned agencies must work together to complete preparations for the Kumbh Mela within the stipulated timeframe.

He directed the Nashik Municipal Commissioner to expedite road repair and pothole-filling works across the city. Contractors failing to complete works within the prescribed deadlines should face punitive action. Authorities must also ensure that ongoing development works do not cause unnecessary inconvenience to citizens.

Mahanagar Gas Limited was directed to coordinate with the Nashik Municipal Corporation and complete pending gas connection works on priority.

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is a matter of prestige for the state, the Chief Minister said, emphasising the need for time-bound planning, inter-departmental coordination and a strong sense of responsibility to ensure timely completion of preparations.

Detailed plans were presented at the meeting for the safe and smooth movement and darshan of an estimated 120 million devotees, covering transportation, accommodation, sanitation, disaster management and digital facilities. Fadnavis emphasised the need to accelerate the Nashik Ring Road, Sadhugram, railway station development, deployment of 4,500 special ST buses, and extensive parking facilities.

Focus on ‘Digital Kumbh’

Under the ‘Digital Kumbh’ initiative, the Chief Minister directed authorities to use artificial intelligence, the ‘Kumbhdut’ AI assistant, digital twin technology, smart parking, missing-person tracking systems and an Integrated Command and Control Centre to strengthen crowd and security management.

To make the Kumbh Mela clean, green and plastic-free, thousands of temporary toilets, garbage bins and changing rooms will be installed, along with the deployment of a large sanitation workforce. Special disaster-management teams, volunteers and modern technology will also be deployed.

Skill-development programmes are being undertaken to create employment opportunities for local youth. Thousands of young people will receive training in tourism, hospitality, healthcare and disaster management. Necessary assistance will also be provided to micro-entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

Chief Minister Fadnavis directed that land acquisition, the Ring Road, Sadhugram and other key civic infrastructure projects be completed by March 2027 and made available for actual use by April 2027.

He also called upon the Central and State governments, Railways, the National Highways Authority of India and local administration to work in close coordination to make the Simhastha Kumbh Mela safe, grand and memorable for devotees.

Nashik Divisional Commissioner Dr Praveen Gedam, Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik Range, Sanjay Ainpure, Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh, Nashik Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri, Nashik District Collector Ayush Prasad, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Omkar Pawar, Superintendent of Police Dr D. S. Swami and other senior Nashik officials were present at the meeting.