Nashik: NTKMA Reviews Sadhugram, Tentage Plans Ahead Of MahaSimhastha Kumbh

Nashik: The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) reviewed the proposed Sadhugram and tentage arrangements for MahaSimhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, with a focus on finalising the infrastructure requirements, supporting utilities and responsibilities of various agencies involved in setting up and managing the temporary facilities.

The review meeting was chaired by NTKMA Commissioner Shekhar Singh and attended by NMC Commissioner Manisha Khatri, Additional Commissioner Pradeep Chaudhary, City Engineer Sanjay Agarwal, NTKMA's additional commissioner Kamlakar Randive, assistant commissioner Amol Chaudhari, Tehsildar Makrand Diwakar and other officials from PWD and Police department, along with former NMC engineers who had been associated with the planning and execution of the 2015 Kumbh arrangements.

The review covered the proposed tentage requirements for Akhada camps, convention halls, pandals, public accommodation, Mela offices, sector offices and VIP camps in Sadhugram. Alongside the tentage, the meeting examined requirements for electricity, water supply, sewage, drainage, sanitation, emergency response, police and fire services, hospitals and first-aid facilities.

A key focus of the review was to ensure that the different components of Sadhugram are planned as an integrated system, rather than as standalone infrastructure. The responsibility framework being worked out involves NTKMA, NMC, PWD, MSEDCL, health authorities, police and other agencies for different components including tentage, electrical infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, land levelling, drainage, security and healthcare.

The meeting also reviewed requirements of various departments and camps, procurement mechanisms and key decisions required for the tentage arrangements. These include finalising the nodal mechanism for tentage, requirements of offices and camps of different departments, police and fire requirements, furniture distribution, provision of a media centre and hospital facilities, and a common procurement mechanism for similar inventory.

As part of the review, NTKMA also drew upon the first-hand experience of officials who had worked on the 2015 Kumbh. Retired NMC officials Sunil Khune, retired City Engineer; U.B. Pawar, retired City Engineer; R.K. Pawar, retired Superintending Engineer; S.R. Vanjari, retired City Engineer; and G.M. Pagare, retired Executive Engineer participated in the discussions and shared their experience of the earlier Kumbh arrangements.

NTKMA Commissioner Shekhar Singh said the review is aimed at ensuring that every component of Sadhugram is planned in coordination with the concerned agencies. The experience of officials who have worked on the previous Kumbh provides valuable practical inputs that can help strengthen the present plan, anticipate on-ground requirements and ensure that lessons from 2015 are incorporated well before implementation begins.