Bareilly: District Magistrate Avinash Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the Collectorate auditorium to assess preparations for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, directing all departments to complete pending works well before the commencement of the pilgrimage.
The meeting reviewed compliance with instructions issued during earlier coordination meetings and sought updates from officials on the progress of preparations. Police station in-charges were asked to submit written reports highlighting shortcomings along Kanwar routes. Key issues raised included covering electricity poles with protective insulation, barricading transformers located close to roads, repairing damaged roads, and improving safety measures along the pilgrimage routes.
Officials also discussed potholes and waterlogging near Lal Phatak Bridge. The Public Works Department was instructed to repair the damaged stretches and remove encroachments obstructing drainage channels to prevent flooding. Additional directions included installing road lighting near Bichailia village on Babhia Road, improving illumination beneath Qila Bridge, barricading the transformer near Alakhnath Temple, and providing lifeguards with small boats and life jackets. Authorities were also asked to construct speed breakers on both sides of the under-construction bridge at Navadiya Jhada in Bithri Chainpur block.
Municipal bodies were directed to repair damaged roads within their jurisdictions before the Kanwar Yatra begins and install slabs over open drains wherever necessary. Officials were also instructed to remove and safely relocate stray cattle from pilgrimage routes to ensure smooth movement of devotees.
Addressing the meeting, District Magistrate Avinash Singh emphasized that preparations should be completed in advance to ensure the month-long Shravan pilgrimage is conducted peacefully, as in previous years. He directed departments to arrange welcome gates, waterproof tents, community kitchens, drinking water, food, healthcare, and security for pilgrims. Surveillance through CCTV and drone cameras, establishment of a dedicated control room, and deployment of static, sector, zonal and super-zonal magistrates were also ordered. Separate toilet facilities at rest camps for women pilgrims and cooperation from social organizations were also emphasized.
Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya instructed officials to treat all arrangements with utmost seriousness, with particular focus on Kanwar routes and Shiva temples. He stressed the need to address sanitation, waterlogging, exposed electrical wires, potholes, stray cattle, and removal of fallen trees or overgrown branches caused by adverse weather. He also directed regular quality checks of food served at community kitchens, installation of lighting at dark spots, dissemination of prescribed DJ size regulations to procession leaders, and active involvement of the Civil Defence organization in managing the pilgrimage.
Chief Medical Officer informed the meeting that 30 health camps would be established, including 23 in rural areas and seven in urban locations. These camps will be equipped with essential medicines, and medical kits will also be distributed to Kanwar pilgrims.
The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya, Additional District Magistrates Purnima Singh, Santosh Kumar Singh and Avinash Tripathi, Superintendent of Police (City) Manush Pareek, Superintendent of Police (South) Anshika Verma, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Mohammad Akmal Khan, Chief Development Officer Dr Vishram Singh, Bareilly Development Authority Secretary, and other senior police and administrative officials.
