CM Yogi Adityanath Reviews Preparations for Magh Mela 2026, Orders War-Level Execution for a Grand and Seamless Celebration
Prayagraj: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday conducted an extensive review of preparations for Magh Mela 2026, directing officials and public representatives to ensure that every arrangement is completed by 15 December 2025.
The review meeting was held at the ICCC auditorium of the Prayagraj Mela Authority in the presence of ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior administrative and police officials.
Key Directives from the Chief Minister
The Chief Minister instructed all departments to work on a war footing, stressing that not a single drop of untreated water should be allowed to enter the Ganga or Yamuna rivers.
He directed the Irrigation Department to maintain adequate water levels in the Ganga during the entire Mela period, while ensuring a consistent supply of clean and safe drinking water in the Mela area.
He ordered immediate repair of damaged roads, footpaths and potholes, and demanded complete cleanliness at all major intersections.
The Urban Development Department has been instructed to install a sufficient number of streetlights across ghats and public areas.
The Municipal Corporation has been asked to arrange adequate dry firewood for bonfires at multiple locations, considering the extreme cold in January–February.
The Chief Minister also emphasised uninterrupted coordination with Indian Railways, particularly for the main bathing days, directing them to schedule special trains, assess crowd inflow in advance, and ensure proper holding areas at stations when required.
He further asked officials to expedite the remaining works of the Hanuman Mandir Corridor Phase-2 and carry out cleaning of the fort walls.
Transport & Crowd Management
CM Yogi instructed the Roadways Department to operate a large fleet of buses and shuttle services to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims. Drivers deployed for these services must go through mandatory verification.
A comprehensive traffic movement plan is to be prepared through inter-district and inter-state coordination to ensure seamless crowd management.
The police have been directed to fully integrate CCTV networks, deploy drone surveillance, strengthen NDRF and SDRF teams, and maintain polite behaviour with pilgrims.
Administrative & Infrastructure Review
A detailed presentation by Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal and Mela Officer Rishiraj highlighted ongoing works and innovations, including:
- Construction of 7 pontoon bridges (compared to 6 earlier)
- Expansion of parking areas and arrangements for food stalls
- Increased number and size of directional signage
- Ring Main Units (RMUs) and QR-coded electric poles for uninterrupted power supply
- Geo-tube embankment works to prevent erosion
- Deployment of pre-fabricated STPs instead of open STPs
- Establishment of Tent City in Arail
Police Commissioner Joginder Singh briefed the CM on security innovations and enhanced surveillance mechanisms.
Senior Leaders and Officials in Attendance
The meeting was attended by state ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, senior secretaries of key departments, the DGP, senior administrative officers, and representatives from all Mela-related departments.
CM Performs Puja at Sangam, Hanuman Temple
Before the review, CM Yogi visited the Sangam Nose, performing Maa Triveni puja and aarti with Vedic chanting for the successful and obstacle-free conduct of Magh Mela 2026. He also offered prayers at the Lete Hanuman Temple, participated in the prān-pratishtha ceremony of Hanuman ji at another temple, and later attended a family function at Kanhashyam Hotel.
CM’s Interaction with Media
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said it was his privilege to review the preparations and offer prayers at Maa Ganga and Bade Hanuman Ji.
He informed that the area of the Mela has been expanded this year compared to 2024.
Magh Mela 2026 will be held for 44 days, from January 3 (Paush Purnima) to February 15 (Mahashivratri), covering major bathing dates such as Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, and Maghi Purnima.
Nearly 12–15 crore pilgrims are expected to visit.
Infrastructure Highlights Shared by CM
- Irrigation Department to maintain 10,000 cusecs of water flow in the Ganga.
- Absolutely no untreated sewage is to enter the rivers; 242 km of drinking water pipelines and 85 km of sewer lines are being laid.
- Two 20-bed hospitals, five Ayurvedic clinics, five Homoeopathic clinics, and 50 ambulances to be operational.
- Urban Development Department to set up 25,000 toilets, 8,000 dustbins, over 10 lakh garbage liner bags, 30 suction machines, and 3,000 sanitation workers.
- Mela area expanded to 800 hectares, divided into 7 sectors, with 42 parking sites.
- Over 3,800 buses, including 3,000 Roadways buses, 75 shuttle buses, and 200 reserve buses, will serve pilgrims.
- More than 400 AI-enabled cameras and large-scale CCTV coverage to monitor crowd movement and ensure security.
The Chief Minister assured that preparations are being carried out on a war footing and that Magh Mela 2026 will be conducted with unparalleled grandeur, sanctity and efficiency.
