MAHAKUMBH 2025: Seven pucca ghats on banks of Ganga, Yamuna on cards in Prayagraj

The district administration has sent a letter to Army officials seeking a no objection certificate (NOC) regarding the construction work.

PRAYAGRAJ If things go as planned, pilgrims coming to Prayagraj for Mahakumbh 2025 would be able to sit, relax or pay obeisance to Ganga and Yamuna from beautiful pucca ghats like the ones in Varanasi. Irrigation department (flood control unit) are planning to construct as many as seven pucca ghats on the banks of Ganga and Yamuna before the mega religious fair for the convenience of the pilgrims.

Five ghats would be constructed on the banks of the Yamuna and two along the Ganga. (HT Photo)

The places where pucca ghats are proposed -- include Dashashwamedh Ghat, Rasulabad Ghat, Kila Ghat, Nehru Ghat, Boating Ghat, Maheva Ghat and Chhatnag Ghat, said officials privy to the development. Of these, five ghats would be constructed on the banks of the Yamuna and two along the Ganga. As per the plan, there will be more than 15 ghats in the city with the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Daraganj being the biggest with a width of 60 metres while others would be about 30 metres wide, they added.

Besides, there are plans to beautify Nehru Ghat near Rasulabad and Saraswati Ghat. Kydganj and Mahewa have also been identified for constructing ghats on the banks of the Yamuna, said officials. “Mahakumbh 2025 would be majestic is many ways and we are considering the feasibility of having pucca ghats on both the rivers which would not only boost tourism in the city but will also give proper facility to the devotee to take holy dip in the rivers,” said Brijesh Kumar Verma, executive engineer of the irrigation department.

Construction of pucca ghats at Ganga has always been quite challenging here at Prayagraj as the rivers have a vast flooding ground and the nature of the course of the rivers is also quite unpredictable. Thus, the proposal of the department has to be quite detailed and meticulous, said the official. Permission has been sought from the Army to construct a new ghat near Quilaghat and Saraswati Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna which falls under the cantonment area.

Meanwhile, the district administration has sent a letter to Army officials seeking a no objection certificate (NOC) regarding the construction work. The department is also considering other important aspects which are necessary for construction of the pucca ghat as the flow of the river has to be permanent. For this, dredging will be done in Ganga in a 10 km area with the machines removing sand from the riverbed up to 15 ft of depth. The flow will be determined by dredging the Ganga twice before the Mahakumbh. Subsequently, sufficient water will be available in the Ganga at Dashashwamedh Ghat of Daraganj. The first dredging will be done before Magh Mela-2024 and the second one right before Mahakumbh-2025.