World’s largest ‘tent city’ to host Mahakumbh next year
Arguably, the world’s largest 4,000-hectare ‘tent city’ in Uttar Pradesh (UP) is set to host the world’s largest congregation of humanity, an estimated 400 million pilgrims, at the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025.
The convergence of 400 million people, equalling the combined population of the US and UK, during the auspicious 45 days of Mahakumbh in January-february 2025, would be 1.6 times the current headcount of UP, pegged at 250 million.
According to the UP government, the tent city, illuminated with 67,000 streetlights, will comprise 2,000 tents and 25,000 public accommodations to serve the tourists. About 23,000 closed-circuit television cameras and an artificial intelligence-based chatbot system will complement the security detail for the temporary settlement, which will be manned by a dedicated brass of senior police and administration officials.
A string of road projects, temporary bridges, hospitals, markets, etc, will dot the proposed 25 sectors of the temporary tent city in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) district at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath has already stated that Mahakumbh 2025 will be organised on a much grander scale than the Ardhkumbh 2019 when an estimated 240 million pilgrims converged on the holy city. So far, the state has approved 384 projects worth ~7,500 crore for successfully hosting Mahakumbh 2025. The projects pertain to different departments including tourism, roads, bridges, health, medical, power, irrigation, etc.