To test the preparations for Kumbh Mela-2027 on ground, Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand Government, Shri Anand Vardhan conducted a comprehensive on-site inspection of various construction sites in Haridwar on Thursday. The Chief Secretary, sitting in the Arabenia vehicle with the officials, traveled from one construction site to another, from Rodi-Belwala to Roshanabad, from Kankhal-Dakshdweep-Bairagi Camp to CCR Tower, and took information about the progress, quality, technical aspects, utility and stipulated time limit of the ongoing works on the spot. During this, along with the construction works, he also examined on the spot the facilities and arrangements proposed for the devotees during the fair.
Instructions to speed up construction works
The Chief Secretary gave clear instructions that all the construction work related to Kumbh Mela-2027 should be completed within the stipulated time and the quality should not be compromised at any level. He said that along with regular review and on-site monitoring of works, special attention should be paid to those projects whose pace is not as per expectations. Instructions were given to immediately identify the obstacles coming in the works and ensure their solution and to speed up the construction works with better coordination between the departments and executing agencies.
Standards should also be taken care of
He said that a large number of devotees from India and abroad are likely to reach Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela-2027. In such a situation, it is necessary to complete all the works related to roads, bridges, walkways, drinking water, health, parking, administrative and other basic facilities on time. During construction, the convenience of the general public and local citizens, traffic system and safety standards should also be taken care of.
formal draft of the proposed arrangement
The Chief Secretary inspected the administrative road project of Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB) in Rodi-Belwala area and the redevelopment projects of Rodi-Belwala and Harki Paidi area. He directed to complete the projects promptly and ensure high level arrangements for the convenience and safety of the devotees. He said that after the completion of the contract period of five years, arrangements should be made to hand over the responsibility of permanent maintenance of the assets created from the projects and the systems developed to the concerned department or body. In this regard, he instructed the fair officer to send the formal draft of the proposed arrangement along with the senior officials of the concerned departments for the approval of the government.
Strong guardrail for safety
He also took stock of the reconstruction and improvement works of the ghats between Hathipul and Alaknanda. Instructions were given to make proper arrangements of strong railings and chains for the safety of devotees at the ghats and to make foot traffic easier. An amount of ₹ 4325.14 lakh has been approved by the government for the construction of administrative road and ₹ 6677.21 lakh for Harki Paidi revitalization work.
inspected the renovation work
In Rishikul area, the Chief Secretary inspected the renovation work of Old Delhi-Nitipass road. Keeping in mind the traffic and local traffic, he stressed on ensuring necessary arrangements during the work and on developing greenery by planting trees on the footpaths and other suitable places being developed on the roadside. A sum of ₹ 2164.49 lakh has been sanctioned for the renovation of other internal roads of the city under the Public Works Department, including the stretch from Dudhadhari Chowk to Jwalapur.
After this, the Chief Secretary inspected the improvement of intersections and pedestrian footpath work from Shivmurti Chowk, Shankar Ashram Chowk and Bhagat Singh Chowk to Wilkeshwar. Instructions were given to give priority to the convenience of pedestrians, safe movement and smooth operation of traffic in this work costing ₹ 683.60 lakh.
Instructions to complete within stipulated time
In Roshanabad, the Chief Secretary inspected the drug warehouse under construction at a cost of ₹ 251.98 lakh. He gave instructions to complete this important project related to health services within the stipulated time. After this, inspected the 60 meter span bridge under construction in Bairagi area located in Dakshdweep. An amount of ₹1246.09 lakh is approved for this project. Taking information about the progress and technical aspects of the bridge construction, he gave instructions to complete the work with quality within the stipulated time.
The Chief Secretary also inspected the CCR-2 building and gave instructions to speed up the work to prepare the building before the start of the Kumbh Mela and to get the work done day and night as per the requirement. He asked to pay special attention to the quality of building construction.
Instructions to increase the speed of work
After the inspection, the Chief Secretary held a meeting with senior officials of Kumbh Mela and District Administration at Dam Kothi and did a detailed review of the department-wise construction works and other preparations. He instructed the executing agencies to increase the pace of work by ensuring availability of adequate human resources and machinery.
Quality checks carried out continuously and strictly
In the meeting, the Chief Secretary appointed TUV SUD South Asia Pvt. for third party quality check of the construction works of Kumbh Mela. Ltd., Quality Austria Central Asia Pvt. Ltd. and Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd. Took information about the progress of quality checking from the team leaders. He directed that quality checks should be done continuously and strictly and if any deficiency is found at any level, it should be rectified immediately.
He also inquired about the plans for alternative routes and bridges to access the parking lots and diversion routes that will be affected due to the construction of NH projects. Also, while reviewing the preparations for crowd management, instructions were given to prepare a concrete and effective action plan keeping in mind the possible circumstances.
work with team spirit
The Chief Secretary said that coordinated efforts of all departments are necessary for the success of Kumbh Mela-2027. The officials will have to work with team spirit and complete the set targets on time, so that safe, convenient and organized facilities can be provided to the devotees during the fair. He said that so that the devotees return from Haridwar with a better experience, all necessary arrangements related to convenience, security, accessibility and welcome should be ensured in time.
Quality check also from Central Building Research Institute
While giving information to the Chief Secretary about the construction works and other preparations related to the Kumbh Mela, Mela Officer Mrs. Sonika said that all the works are progressing as per the scheduled timeline and multi-level monitoring of the progress and quality is being done continuously. He said that the safety audit of the bridges of Kumbh area has been done by the concerned departments and IIT Roorkee has also been requested to get the bridges inspected. He said that apart from the agency appointed for quality check of CCR-2 building, it has also been decided to get the quality check done from the Central Building Research Institute.
During the inspection and meeting, Commissioner Garhwal Mr. Anand Swaroop, Fair Officer Mrs. Sonika, IG (Kumbh) Dr. Yogendra Singh Rawat, District Magistrate Mr. Mayur Dixit, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Navneet Bhullar, SSP (Kumbh) Mr. Ayush Aggarwal, Divisional Forest Officer Mr. Swapnil Anirudh, Chief Development Officer Dr. Lalit Narayan Mishra, Additional Fair Officer Mr. Dayanand Saraswati, Fair Health Officer Dr. Manish Dutt, Deputy Fair Officer Mr. Akash. Joshi and Mr. Manjeet Singh, Superintending Engineer of Technical Cell Mr. DP Bhatt, Superintending Engineer of Public Works Department Mr. DP Singh and senior officers of the concerned departments were present.