India, Oct. 31 -- When President Droupadi Murmu presides over the ceremonial hoisting of the sacred flags at Ramkund in Nashik and Kushavarta Tirtha in Trimbakeshwar today, the ritual will mark more than the formal beginning of a religious congregation that comes once every 12 years.

It will set in motion one of Maharashtra's most ambitious administrative and infrastructure exercises that involves an estimated Rs.34,732 crore in projects, 12 crore projected pilgrim visits and an attempt to reshape two pilgrimage centres before the first major ritual bath in August 2027.

Roads are being widened, a 65-km circular stretch is under construction, railway stations and the airport are being upgraded, and sewage-treatment and river-cleaning pro...