The Uttar Pradesh medical and technical education minister Ashutosh Tandon said that Kumbh represents the timelessly glorious culture and traditions of the country.
Addressing media persons here on Friday, he claimed that the UP government has made elaborate arrangements for successful organisation of Prayagraj Kumbh-2019 which is commencing from January 15.
“The objective is to make efforts to familiarise the world with the high quality life, conduct and thoughts of the Indian culture through the Kumbh. As part of the preparations for Kumbh , 671 projects have been completed during the last one and a half years, he said and added that the state government has set aside an amount of Rs 2800 crore for the mega event. “For convenience of tourists and devotees, nine flyovers on the roads leading to Prayagraj have been constructed in just one and a half years,’’ he said.
Tandon further said that the efforts made by the state government have resulted in setting up of a new city in the huge Mela area which would be the largest temporary city in the world with over 250 km long roads and 22 pontoon bridges. “Keeping in view the arrival of devotees in a large number, availability of electricity has been made more effective by streamlining energy infrastructure in Prayagraj. For the first time, the Mela area is being illuminated by installing over 40,000 LED lights,’’ he added.The UP minister claimed that for the first time, the Kumbh Mela Area has been brought under the surveillance of Integrated Control and Command Centre and CCTV cameras. The system would facilitate controlling and keeping safe the traffic movement and the crowd coming to mela and help in ensuring law and order of the city, he said.
The minister informed that 1,22,000 toilets have been constructed and sanitation workers more than double in number as compared to the previous Kumbh have been deployed in Prayagraj Kumbh-2019. He said that 20,000 dustbins have been placed in the Mela area besides deploying 140 tippers and 40 compactors for ensuring solid waste management. Tandon said that to keep the river Ganga clean, 32 drains opening in the Ganga have been sealed. He added that Indian Inland Waterways Authority has set up five jetties in the Mela area. “These jetties are facilitating operation of large cruises and motor boats in Prayagraj for the first time,’’ the minister claimed.