The massive crowds that gathered during two recent major bathing festivals have raised serious questions regarding the city’s traffic management. These events have provided the fair administration with valuable lessons on how to manage traffic-related challenges for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2027. It is imperative to draw lessons from the crowds that thronged the city during the Buddha Purnima bathing festival and the subsequent weekend—specifically Saturday and Sunday.
The primary areas where issues were observed included Chandi Ghat, where the presence of a double-lane bridge caused the entire traffic load to converge at the Chandi Ghat intersection. Consequently, a felt need arose for special arrangements to facilitate vehicles traveling toward Dehradun, Haridwar city, or Delhi.
Vehicles heading toward the Shyampur-Chilla range also faced severe difficulties. Vehicles arriving from the Shyampur-Najibabad side were unable to enter the Chilla range directly. The service lanes along the flyover stretch from Jwalapur to Raiwala also remained heavily congested. The absence of clear signage and the pressure caused by encroachments on the service lanes beneath the flyover emerged as the primary causes of these traffic jams. This situation persisted despite the implementation of traffic management measures and route diversions. These experiences have yielded crucial lessons for future preparedness—lessons that demand immediate attention.
**Major Traffic Bottlenecks**
An excessive volume of vehicular traffic was observed at the Chandi Ghat intersection. The construction of a second bridge at Chandi Ghat exacerbated this problem, particularly because the influx of incoming vehicles was not effectively managed at the intersection itself. The situation is further compounded by the temporary parking of taxis at this intersection, as well as the pressure created by unauthorized construction and street vendors occupying the service lanes beneath the flyover.
Difficulties were also encountered on the route leading toward the Shyampur-Chilla range. Vehicles arriving from the Shyampur-Najibabad side faced significant hurdles in reaching the Chilla range. These vehicles are currently compelled to first proceed to the Chandi intersection, cross the second bridge, and then loop back from the Chandi Ghat police post to access the route leading to the Chilla range.
Furthermore, the service lanes along the flyover stretch from Jwalapur to Raiwala remain perpetually plagued by traffic congestion. Any vehicle exiting the city and heading toward the highway flyover utilizes the service road; here, the presence of illegally parked tempos, taxis, and e-rickshaws—along with Transport Corporation buses stopping to pick up passengers—is causing traffic congestion.
**Future Challenges and Solutions**
These bathing festivals have presented a broad overview of the traffic management landscape for Kumbh 2027. The Mela administration must formulate a comprehensive plan to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular traffic at Chandighat Chowk. There is a need to install clear signage and clear encroachments from the service lanes. For future crowd management, effective route diversions and alternative routes must be considered. By drawing lessons from these experiences, the arrangements for Kumbh 2027 can be significantly improved.
