Mela turns into ‘no vehicle zone’ ahead of Maghi Purnima snan

Prayagraj: With chief minister Yogi Adityanath instructing a special traffic plan to ensure the smooth movement and safety of devotees ahead of Maghi Purnima snan, mela police on Tuesday turned the entire mela campus into a ‘no vehicle zone', with entry restricted only to essential and emergency services.
Focusing on an improved traffic system, all private and public vehicles flocking to Prayagraj are being parked at designated parking slots along their respective routes. Taking a serious note of traffic jams witnessed on last weekend (Saturday and Sunday), fresh measures are initiated aiming to prevent traffic congestion in the city and allow pilgrims to reach the bathing ghats conveniently on foot.
Moreover, the ‘no vehicle zone' scheme has also been implemented throughout Prayagraj city from Tuesday evening, and only emergency services will be exempt from this regulation. Teams of senior police and administrative officials have also been roped in to ensure devotees' pilgrimage is smooth.
Reviewing arrangements ahead of Maghi Purnima snan to be held on Wednesday, mela cops claimed that the special traffic plan will remain in effect until the completion of the snan, ensuring the safe departure of pilgrims from the mela grounds. Similar rules will also be applied to the vehicles of devotees observing kalpavas. The administration has urged all kalpvasis to comply with the guidelines and use only authorised parking facilities.
Meanwhile, mela police have also implemented a seven-point special scheme to regulate the flow of devotees and pilgrims flocking to Ganga ghats to take holy dips and perform rituals. The scheme includes a ‘no vehicle zone' in the mela area, a one-way traffic system, restrictions on vehicles entering Prayagraj limits, a diversion plan through barricades, holding areas and no overcrowding on ghats.
The mela police have also assigned duties to additional police officials, particularly for traffic and crowd management.
Additional DG (Prayagraj zone) Bhanu Bhaskar told TOI, "Elaborate security measures are in place to ensure the safety and security of devotees flocking to the mela campus." He added, "We have focused on the traffic system, and additional teams of officials have been deployed at static points connecting Prayagraj with highways. Besides, duties of mela police and paramilitary personnel have also been assigned at all static points to regulate the flow of devotees." He said, "There was smooth traffic flow at all highways connecting with Prayagraj, and mela police, with the help of Prayagraj district police, are also coordinating to ensure the one-way system effectively."
Religious scholar Amitabh Gour told TOI, "Maghi Purnima tithi began on Tuesday evening (6:55pm) and will continue till Wednesday (7:12pm)." He said, "Maghi Purnima is the day when deities descend to the Triveni Sangam in a divine form to perform penance and bless devotees. It is also a day dedicated to honouring ancestors and offering prayers for their peace and salvation."
Meanwhile, the flow of devotees continued at all 44 ghats located at Parade, Arial and Jhunsi, with special 20 teams along with Jal police regulating the flow of devotees at ghats, officials said.
Apart from monitoring the arrangements from the ICCC, senior police and administrative officials are reviewing arrangements at static points, including border areas, city and mela area. Mela cops are also operating the pontoon bridges in a systematic manner after acknowledging the strength of the crowd. With a 12 km-long ghat (total 44 ghats) being constructed, devotees are being encouraged to take a holy dip at the ghat closest to their entry point and return from there without moving towards Sangam Nose. Cops are adopting resources like ropes, loudspeakers, whistles, barriers, barricades and watchtowers to regulate the unabated flow of devotees, officials said.
A strong posse of 40,000 policemen, including paramilitary personnel and equipped with all modern gadgets, are assigned duties at static locations. Moreover, the infrastructure at all 44 ghats is being reinforced to accommodate the large number of devotees. Provisions like river barricading, Jal police, watchtowers, improved lighting, clear signage, toilets, changing rooms and comprehensive cleanliness measures are in place, officials said.