Kumbh like never before has changed Prayagraj city for better

Kumbh like never before has changed Prayagraj city for better

Prayagraj (still Allahabad among common folks) is situated on the holy confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. It hosts a mammoth gathering which is almost 10 to 15 times it’s population every 6 years in Ardh Kumbh and 12 years in Kumbh. The current regime is rapidly renaming and Ardh kumbh is now known as Kumbh and Kumbh will be known as Mahakumbh. However the results of such change is yet unclear.

2019 is the year of Ardh Kumbh in Allahabad. It can be stated without doubt that the governments both in Centre and the state have left no stones unturned to make it the most memorable event. The success of this gigantic human gathering will be bragged on by the ruling party in the upcoming general elections.

A Bill Board in Kumbh Mela that shows the Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh

A shelf of projects worth Rs 4,236 crore has been readied for Kumbh. This makes the mega pilgrimage in 2019 the costliest ever. The last Kumbh Mela in 2013 costed less than a third of the amount estimated for the Mela this year. Of the Rs 4,236 crore budget, nearly Rs 3,000 crore is for permanent projects and upgradation in Allahabad city and rest for works inside Mela area.

A BillBoard showing the fund used for development of city and mammoth Kumbh

It goes as a popular saying among Allahabadis that the city gets a half service every 6 years and a full service every 12 years. But this time it is something different. As if the current Government headed by Mahant Adityanath  wanted to send a crystal clear message and if so the case it has successfully done so.

The infrastructure of the city has been revamped from the dust. Every nook and corner of the city has been worked on. Roads are broader, cleaner and safer. Beautification of every intersection in the city has been ensured. Every government wall covered with beautiful grafittis. New flyovers have been constructed in record timings and a new city altogether has been settled in the Mela area. I have seen this city up close for almost 11 years now and can bet that the city has changed and changed for better…

BHU Alumni and UPSC Aspirant Marut Nandan Singh has written this piece on Our Very Request.