Nashik Simhastha crowd and traffic plan to be drawn up by IIM Nagpur; 2.25 crore expected on Shahi Snan day

Crowd and traffic planning for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar will now be done from Nagpur. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Nagpur has been chosen as consultant for the work, institute director Dr Bhimaraya Metri said.

IIM estimates that about 2.25 crore devotees will bathe in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar on the day of the Shahi Snan, when the crowd will be at its peak. On the other days of the Kumbh Mela, at least 10 lakh devotees are expected to be present in the two towns every day. Preparations for traffic and crowd arrangements are under way on the basis of this estimate.

Local officials will first submit a "mobility plan" for the Kumbh Mela. IIM Nagpur will then validate that plan. For this, IIM will use traffic simulation, artificial intelligence (AI) and a "LiDAR survey". According to Dr Metri, an updated crowd and traffic plan will be prepared and handed over using all of these.

Dr Metri said a drone survey is currently under way. Traffic simulation and the LiDAR survey will begin as soon as the initial mobility plan is received from local officials.

Traffic will be planned in advance on the basis of the expected crowds during the Kumbh Mela, and especially on the days of the main Shahi Snan. There will be separate routes for pedestrians and for vehicles. A plan will also be drawn up beforehand on which routes would be used in an emergency if the crowd suddenly swells at any spot.

Several parking areas will be fixed outside Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, with separate parking for vehicles arriving from different directions. With the help of AI and the LiDAR survey, problem spots will be identified in advance, and separate emergency arrangements will be made for such places. Dr Metri said everything would be finalised within the next one month.