Mahakumbh Mela 2025: "Full arrangements have been made," says Uttar Pradesh Police

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 5 (ANI): Ahead of the Mahakumbh Mela, Prayagraj Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajesh Dwivedi said that full arrangements have been made for the devotees attending the Mela.
Speaking to ANI, SSP Dwivedi said, "Since all the people are going to take a bath, full arrangements have been made. There are all boats, speedboats, water police, divers, life jackets and along with this there is deep water barricading."
SSP Dwivedi said that all cameras have Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software to verify the vehicle number in real-time.
"All cameras have Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software, which we will use at tolls and parking lots. It has automatic number plate recognition so that we can verify the vehicle number in real-time. We have an anti-drone system," he said.
SSP Dwivedi said 27,000 AI-powered surveillance cameras have been installed for real-time monitoring of the Mahakumbh Mela.
"We have installed 27,000 cameras, the feeds from which will continuously come in. This will help us manage everything. The system also includes AI, where we have set parameters such as crowd density, crowd flow, barricade jumping, and crowd coinciding. All this information will be provided to us in real time," he said.
SSP Dwivedi said that face recognition software will be used to identify people with criminal backgrounds.
"We also have facial recognition software, which will be installed in cameras at strategic locations. The data from these cameras will be matched with our database," he said.
He also said that traffic and pilgrim movement plans have been designed in such a way that people will enter from one route and exit from another.
"The traffic and pilgrim movement plans have been designed in such a way that all incoming individuals will follow one route, and their exit will be through a different route. This is the principle we are applying to the 7 main routes that the devotees will use, as well as the 9 railway stations from where they will enter the mela area. Our policy is that the routes will be separate and non-coinciding. Additionally, in case there is any crowd mismanagement, we have contingency plans in place to provide immediate relief," he said.
The Mahakumbh, held once every 12 years, is scheduled to begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26 in Prayagraj. The main bathing rituals, known as the Shahi Snan (royal baths), will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). (ANI)