Devendra Fadnavis Directs Formation of Kumbh Mela Authority for 2027 Simhastha in Nashik
Mumbai, 26th February 2025: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the formation of a separate Kumbh Mela Authority for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, to be held in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar. Chairing a review meeting on Monday, he also instructed officials to make the upcoming event a “Digital Technology Kumbh” by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for crowd and traffic management.
The meeting was attended by Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Nashik Divisional Commissioner Dr. Praveen Gedam, District Collector Jalaj Sharma, Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri, and officials from various departments.
Authority, Infrastructure, and Crowd Management
The Kumbh Mela Authority Act will be drafted to ensure coordinated and efficient planning, Fadnavis said. Manpower for the event will be brought under this new authority. Based on insights from a Nashik team that visited Prayagraj’s Mahakumbh preparations, the scale of the event will be expanded to accommodate four to five times more devotees than in previous years.
To manage the influx, road, rail, and air transport improvements are planned. The Nashik-Trimbak road will be widened to 24 meters, with tent cities set up along the route. A drone survey will assess the feasibility of constructing a coastal road along the Godavari river to ease congestion.
Fadnavis also ordered the strengthening of key highways connecting Nashik to Mumbai, Jawhar, Gujarat, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Shirdi, Dhule, and Pune. Dedicated parking zones will be created outside Nashik city, with e-buses operating every three minutes to shuttle devotees. Plans will be made to expand plane parking at Shirdi Airport and facilitate additional landings at Ozar Airport. A potential helipad in Nashik is also under consideration.
Railway and Religious Tourism Upgrades
Railway stations such as Nashik Road, Igatpuri, and Kasara will be upgraded in coordination with the railway administration to accommodate pilgrims. Given the religious significance of nearby sites like Shirdi, Wani, Shani Shingnapur, and Mangitungi, religious corridors will be developed. The Ram Kal Path project in Nashik will be completed by 2026, and restoration work on the Trimbakeshwar temple and its sacred water tanks will be undertaken.
Encroachments near Nashik and Trimbakeshwar temples will be removed, Fadnavis directed.
Digital Technology Kumbh and AI-Based Planning
AI-based crowd and traffic management systems will be deployed. Exhibitions on digital technology and Kumbh history will be set up along high-traffic routes. A competition will be held to design the official Simhastha Kumbh logo.
Data from the 2015 Simhastha Kumbh will be analyzed to improve planning. To ensure clean water for the holy dip, measures will be taken to maintain continuous Godavari river flow. Land acquisition plans for Sadhugram, health centers, and fire safety infrastructure will be drafted.
A public address system will be developed for seamless communication with pilgrims, and staff training programs will be conducted. Stressing public participation, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan emphasized the importance of community involvement in the planning process.
