Mumbai, July 3 -- A long-pending road project initiated during the 2021 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar has reached its final stages ahead of the Kanwad Mela. Authorities said the completion of the route will strengthen the traffic system during the fair and serve as its lifeline. As part of the Kumbh Mela development work an alternative route was constructed from the Shri Yantra Temple via Bairagi Camp to the national highway opposite the Om Bridge.
Officials provided cost details for the work, saying two bowstring bridges were constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 100 million (mn) each, while about Rs 120 mn was spent on road construction. The overall project cost was around Rs 320 mn. The delay in completion centred on an approximately 800-metre stretch of land that the Forest department claimed, which halted progress for several years.
Sources described repeated interventions by the Forest department, which at times dug deep ditches along the road, obstructing traffic and causing significant inconvenience to residents. Large vehicles and local commuters travelling to Bairagi Camp faced difficulties due to the poor surface and there was a heightened risk of accidents. The disrupted access affected daily life and movement in the surrounding area.
The Mela officer, Sonika, coordinated efforts to resolve the dispute and local officers reported that about 90 per cent of the work has been completed. They added that remedial earthworks and finishing touches were in progress and the route was expected to be fully ready for the Kanwad Yatra in a few days. The authorities are accelerating final inspections and minor clearances to enable safe passage.
Senior officials described the link as the fair's lifeline and noted that its opening would considerably ease congestion and improve access for devotees. Completion of the route is projected to benefit emergency services and reduce travel time for pilgrims attending the Kanwad Mela.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.