CM Mamata bars 'VIP' culture during Gangasagar Mela, orders impeccable arrangements for devotees

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a crucial meeting to review the preparations for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela, emphasizing that the focus must be on effective Crowd Management. She underscored the importance of the Mela, stating it is not just a religious event but a huge public gathering involving millions of devotees. The CM directed that seamless administrative coordination is vital across all levels, including boats, launches, buses, and jetties, to ensure smooth transport and accommodation for pilgrims.

The Chief Minister issued strict directives to ensure comprehensive arrangements for the devotees. This includes sufficient provisions for clean drinking water and adequate toilet facilities. Special facilities must be arranged for elderly, women, and physically challenged pilgrims. Furthermore, the CM mandated the deployment of adequate medical facilities, including sufficient medical camps, ambulances, and doctors throughout the Mela grounds, while also stressing that all pilgrims must be provided with insurance cover, along with a wrist band and identity card.

To ensure public safety, CM Banerjee called for stringent security measures, including enhanced surveillance via drones and CCTV cameras across the entire Mela area, particularly in sensitive zones where additional police forces will be deployed. She strictly barred the 'VIP Culture', emphasizing that no ordinary devotee should face inconvenience due to VIP movement. The state has arranged approximately 2,500 buses, 250 launches, and 21 jetties for transportation. The CM herself is scheduled to visit Gangasagar in the first week of January, during which she will lay the foundation stone for the 4-kilometer-long Gangasagar Bridge, being built across the Muriganga River at a cost of around ₹17 crore.