India, July 25 -- With the annual Kanwar Yatra set to witness the arrival of lakhs of devotees in the national capital, the Delhi government on Friday finalised an extensive plan to ensure smooth movement, security and civic facilities for Kanwariyas. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta directed officials to make comprehensive arrangements, including round-the-clock sanitation, medical care, uninterrupted power and water supply, improved mobile toilets and coordinated traffic management across the city. Calling the pilgrimage a symbol of India's cultural ethos, Gupta said, "The Kanwar Yatra is a message of service, devotion, social harmony and cultural unity." She added that during the holy month of Shravan, "Lakhs of devotees of Lord Shiva pass through Delhi chanting 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bol Bam', filling the entire atmosphere with faith and devotion." Also Read - Six-yr-old boy drowns in pit; Gr Noida Authority sacks 2 officials The Chief Minister said the government has ensured that every Kanwariya entering Delhi is welcomed with dignity and provided necessary facilities. "The Delhi government has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure that every Kanwariya entering the Capital is welcomed with respect, provided security and offered better facilities," she said. The meeting was attended by Delhi's Minister for Art and Culture and Chairman of the Kanwar Committee Kapil Mishra, committee member MLAs Ajay Mahawar, Anil Sharma, Karnail Singh, Sanjay Goyal and Umang Bajaj, along with senior officials from multiple departments. Also Read - Hawker dies after assault near AIIMS Metro station As part of the preparations, welcome gates will be installed at key entry points into Delhi, while devotees will also be greeted with flower showers. Gupta said she would personally visit different parts of the city to welcome the Kanwariyas. "The people of Delhi have always shown deep faith and a strong spirit of service towards devotees of Lord Shiva. This year too, the government and the public will come together to make the Kanwar Yatra a memorable occasion marked by devotion, service and hospitality," she said. To streamline administrative processes, the government has introduced a single-window system for Kanwar committees to obtain permissions and access various civic services without approaching multiple departments. Also Read - Two die inside Noida STP during cleaning The Chief Minister directed officials to accord top priority to sanitation at Kanwar camps, ensuring round-the-clock cleaning and adequate deployment of sanitation workers. She also ordered an increase in the number of mobile toilets while stressing their quality, regular maintenance and accountability. "Negligence at any level will not be tolerated," she warned. The Health Department has been instructed to deploy doctors and healthcare staff in shifts to provide 24-hour medical assistance at camps. Officials were also directed to ensure adequate drinking water, uninterrupted electricity supply and advance measures to tackle waterlogging during the monsoon. Traffic and security arrangements were also reviewed. Gupta instructed officials to complete barricading, route diversions, PCR deployment and accident-prevention measures in coordination with the Delhi Police and Traffic Police. She emphasised that traffic management should allow the Kanwar Yatra to proceed smoothly while minimising inconvenience to commuters.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.