Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 7: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed all government departments to expedite infrastructure works under the Rs 34,732-crore development plan for the 2027 Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela, warning that delays in project execution would not be tolerated.
Chairing a review meeting in Mumbai, Fadnavis instructed officials to abandon any work-deferral approach and ensure all projects are completed within stipulated timelines while maintaining transparency and quality standards.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of work, the Chief Minister called for greater coordination among departments and announced that another review meeting would be held after one month to assess tangible progress on the ground.
He directed the Nashik Municipal Commissioner to immediately repair potholes and complete ongoing roadworks. Contractors failing to adhere to deadlines would face strict penalties, he said.
Fadnavis also instructed Mahanagar Gas Company to coordinate with the Nashik Municipal Corporation to complete pending gas pipeline works without causing inconvenience to residents.
The Chief Minister said priority should be given to completing the Nashik Ring Road, developing Sadhugram, upgrading railway stations, deploying 4,500 special State Transport (ST) buses and creating an extensive parking network to manage the expected influx of nearly 12 crore devotees during the religious congregation.
As part of the proposed Digital Kumbh initiative, Fadnavis directed officials to incorporate advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence-based assistants named 'Kumbhdoot', Digital Twin modelling, smart parking systems, facial recognition and missing-person tracking, and an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) for real-time crowd and security management.
To ensure a clean and environmentally friendly event, the government plans to deploy thousands of temporary toilets, waste bins, changing rooms and sanitation workers while enforcing a plastic-free Kumbh.
The Chief Minister also said skill development programmes would be launched to train local youth in tourism, hospitality, healthcare and disaster management, creating employment opportunities during the mega event.
Fadnavis fixed March 2027 as the deadline for completing land acquisition, the Nashik Ring Road, Sadhugram and major civic infrastructure, with all facilities expected to become operational by April 2027.
He urged the Central and State governments, Indian Railways, the National Highways Authority of India and local administrative bodies to work in close coordination to ensure timely completion of the projects.