Prayagraj: The Sangam bath holds special significance during the Mahakumbh, and the Yogi government has made extensive arrangements to ensure smooth bathing for the devotees. In just 85 days, the state’s Irrigation Department’s mechanical branch in Varanasi has worked tirelessly to extend the Sangam Triveni, covering over 2 hectares of area. This will allow two lakh devotees to bathe per hour at the holy site, making the sacred ritual more accessible.
The newly expanded area has created a triangular formation, offering bathing facilities from three sides. This newly developed area is being referred to as the Sangam Nose.
Smooth Bathing Experience for Devotees
Upeendra Singh, Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department (Decoration & Materials Management) in Lucknow, shared that during the 2019 Kumbh, arrangements were made to accommodate 25 crore devotees. However, due to river erosion, the Sangam Noz area became considerably smaller in the past six years. This time, the Yogi government has set a target to provide the Sangam bath to 45 crore devotees. To achieve this, expanding the Sangam region was crucial and presented a significant challenge.
Despite ongoing erosion since 2019, 2 hectares (2.6 lakh square meters) of land have been reclaimed for the Sangam Noz area for the 2025 Kumbh. This expansion will allow an additional 2 lakh devotees per hour to bathe with ease.
Threefold Increase in Capacity
In 2019, the Sangam Noz could accommodate only 50,000 devotees per hour. This time, the capacity has been tripled, marking a historic achievement. Moreover, a total of 26 hectares of land from Shastri Bridge to Sangam Noz has been reclaimed. The river had continuously eroded the right bank, causing over 2 hectares of land to be engulfed. Through the use of four dredger machines, this land was successfully reclaimed.
85-Day Achievement with Team Effort
Sujit Kumar Singh, Executive Engineer of the Barrage Mechanical Maintenance Branch in Varanasi, along with his team members Surya Bhushan, Pradeep, Anurag, and others, used four large dredging machines to reclaim an additional 26 hectares, expanding the Sangam region.
The project commenced on October 15, 2024, and was completed by January 7, 2025. Over 85 days, work continued in three shifts, with nearly 25 workers and supervisors per shift. Four dredging machines played a crucial role in this operation.
Approximately 7 lakh cubic meters of silt were removed, and 6 lakh cubic meters of sand were added to expand the area between Shastri Bridge and Sangam Noz along the right bank. Furthermore, 75,000 cubic meters of sand were added to the important Eravat Ghat, and 1,650 meters of sand bags were used to extend the ghats.
This massive effort will ensure a smoother, more efficient bathing experience for millions of devotees during the upcoming Mahakumbh, making it a grand success for the Yogi government’s preparations.
