Crowd management is biggest challenge, say Kumbh organisers

With about one crore devotees expected to descend on Nashik on each of the parvani days – to take holy dip – during the Kumbh Mela, authorities say crowd management will be the most challenging part of organising the mega event. Kumbh Mela will be held between August and September.

Officials entrusted with management of the religious event say their focus has been right from different routes leading to the city. "Crowd movement from all these entry points has been channelized to various ghats," said deputy commissioner of police Pankaj Dahane, in charge of the Kumbh Mela cell.

Dahane, who has been involved with the planning of Kumbh for the past two years, said they have made outer and inner parking zones. "Pilgrims arriving in the city by road or the railways will have to stop at the 13 designated outer parking spots. Only state transport buses will be allowed to take the devotees from the outer parking areas to inner parking spots."

Pilgrims will then be made walk from inner parking areas to various ghats through marked routes. "Utmost care has been taken to ensure that there is no counter movement either of the buses or people on any of the routes. Incoming and outgoing routes are earmarked separately," said DCP Dahane.

For smooth movement of the crowd, authorities will use 'hold and release' mechanism – letting pilgrims to cross a particular area in batches. Shelter places have been created at the outer, inner parking as well as holding areas with facilities for water, sanitation, lights, tents, food, medical aid etc.

To avoid congestion at the railway station, the incoming and outgoing crowd will be using different gates.

This apart, 348 CCTV cameras have been installed in the city to keep an eye on routes and mischief-mongers. Likewise, 1,700 speakers have been installed across the pilgrim city for better communication. Officials will also make a grid of wireless phones, computer systems and ham radios for this purpose.

The police will set up helpdesks to assist people with missing persons. Information about lost persons will relayed through a centralised system. "We have also made arrangements to display photos of the missing persons. People can approach any police station if their loved one go missing," said Dahane.

The officer added, "We're leaving no stone unturned to ensure safety, security, smooth movement of the pilgrims."