KAKINADA: East Godavari Collector Keerthi Chekuri has suggested the Prayag Kumbh Mela tent house vendors’ team and officials to jointly plan safe accommodations for pilgrims arriving for the holy dips in Godavari Pushkaralu-2026.
There is also a need to create provisions for drainage, sanitation and security, she said.
The team visited the 16 places in Rajamahendravaram and Kovvur division areas on Thursday for a study of the local conditions and later met the collector on Friday.
She said a comprehensive action plan is being formulated to establish Tent Cities’ through a scientific approach, aiming to provide safe and comfortable accommodation facilities for devotees during the upcoming 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu.
The collector asked officials to prepare proposals in accordance with the plan. “All the arrangements should be undertaken with meticulous advance planning, taking into account the monsoon rains typical of June and July as well as the specific geographical conditions of the Godavari river basin area.”
She said that the Payaga team possessed extensive experience in organising the Kumbh Mela. The 16 sites they visited were initially identified by the district administration within the limits of Rajamahendravaram and Kovvuru towns for the congregation of the pilgrims.
The vendors’ team explained to the collector that they had assessed key parameters such as the suitability of the sites for ten installations, transportation, accessibility, security, drinking water availability, sanitation and the proximity of emergency services.
They said the setting up of modern German Tents can be of help as these can provide a temporary resting space for the hundreds of thousands of devotees visiting the Pushkaralu. “This would allow them to take rest for a while after performing their holy dips.”
The collector directed the team to provide temporary toilets, bathrooms, drinking water, power supply, sanitation etc.
She also said the team should take steps to avoid stagnation of water through the erection of an effective drainage system.
Keerthi Chekuri suggested that separate planning should be made for VIP tents, accommodation for general devotees, special tents for officials, police stations, control rooms, medical camps and others.
The officials, she said, must prepare a traffic and security plan based on the route map so that the movement of devotees can continue smoothly.
The vendor team explained to the collector the challenges they faced during the Prayag Kumbh Mela and proposed steps to effectively address them.
They said that the identified sites should be handed over to the respective implementation agencies at least two to three months in advance to complete the work on time.
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