Kumbh Mela authority eyes traffic panel in Nashik city

Nashik: The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) has formally proposed creation of a "City Traffic Coordination Committee" to manage the massive mobility challenges anticipated for the 2027 mega-event given the influx of a large number of devotees.In a letter addressed to Nashik city police commissioner and municipal commissioner, Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh has called for integrated planning for handling the complexity of the upcoming festival and hence has proposed for a committee designed as a collaborative forum led by the city police, with active support from the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)."The committee's objective is to align infrastructure planning with the police plans of the traffic movement for both vehicles and pedestrians during the parvani and non-parvani days," the letter said.While the NMC is responsible for infrastructure works including roads, repairs, street lighting and installation of way-finding signage to assist pilgrims, emergency access routes, evacuation protocols, deployment of advanced technology like AI-enabled CCTV and Intelligent Transport Systems for real-time monitoring, the police will be using the same for traffic management."As part of the committee, both govt bodies will be able to carry out the execution in an appropriate manner for movement of devotees. The committee will also integrate public transport systems in line with the mobility plan," a senior official from the authority said.