Start preparing for Maha Kumbh 2037
Crowd management not just at the site of the Kumbh but at spaces leading to and from it clearly has to be rethought by authorities.
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Tackling scale is obviously the key ask for delivery. Managing high flows and crowds has not been India's forte as stampedes in Prayagraj and at New Delhi Railway Station tragically demonstrated. Crowd modelling needs to be incorporated to foresee crowd size, disruptive factors and sudden surges. Systems and facilities need to be stress-tested according to worst-case scenarios ensuring that redundancies are built in. Adjustments — including caps in numbers of pilgrims — need to be made if required, to allow for a massive influx of non-residents. The UP government must create this review platform. The Prayagraj administration must take the lead in making a system assessment and identify issues where serious attention is required, working with other agencies to create the playbook for a system that is agile and responsive, critical for mega events.
Cleaning up after an event is sometimes a bigger task than preparing for it. A huge influx of visitors requires a measure of adjustment from even the best provisioned cities. The secret to success is to make the right projections, ensuring satisfied visitors and contented locals, opportunities for local businesses that do not leave visitors feeling taken advantage of. That requires an administration that makes provision for surprises. Preparing for Maha Kumbh 2037 will provide that opportunity.
