The Uttar Pradesh Government, learning from past experience, is adopting a more scientific and systematic approach for the Kumbh Mela to be held in this town from January to April next year. Hectic preparations are on for the mela, which is expected to turn this town into the "Vatican of India."

The Mela is expected to bring lakhs of devotees and the sanctity attached to the event is so great that it has been difficult to handle the devotional frenzy in the past ..

The Mela will begin on January 14, the first important bathing day for the devotees. (There are) important days on which the devotees will have a dip in the Ganges ...

While round-the-clock activity is taking place in all important sites in and around Hardwar which is expected to be the focus of devotional fervour during the Kumbh Mela, the thrust is on developing a scientific approach to the entry and exit of devotees into Hardwar by dividing the town into as many as 22 sectors, by increasing the free circulation area within the town and by managing the traffic flow into the town in such a way that the flow of man, vehicle as well as essential commodities are not hampered ... A permanent office has been established and a sector plan has been prepared which has been data-fed into a computer as well. A transport plan has been prepared and the geographical information base is readily available for day-to-day co-ordination of all activities ...

A large number of new bathing ghats have been developed on the Ganges so as to disperse the crowd of devotees that shall throng the town next year. Three permanent bridges are being developed in the town ... As many as 27 temporary bridges have also been constructed ... As many as 18 departments were involved in the preparations to be completed by November, 30. Security will be tight and modern telecommunication equipment like Close Circuit televisions, hi-tech camera equipment, etc, will add colour to the event.

A quality control cell has been established ... and a grievance cell during the mela ... to listen to the complaints. ... The traffic plan will ensure that most of devotees walk up to the mela site as almost all parking areas are at the entrance to the town ...