Technical plan for new bathing ghat approved

NASHIK: The central design organization (CDO) of the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (MERI) has cleared the technical plan for the new bathing ghats to be built along the Godavari River banks in time for the Kumbh mela.
"The administrative approval for the construction of ghats is still awaited. We have, however, got the technical sanction for the same and will float tenders after the administrative approval," a senior water resource department (WRD) official in Nashik said.
The WRD is to construct 1,830 metres of ghat along both the banks of the river downstream from Ramkund, from Kannamwar Bridge to Dasak, Takli and even in Trimbakeshwar at a cost of Rs 120 crore and other development works at the cost of Rs 49 crore.
"We have planned the construction over a 12-month period and are confident of completing the work with time to spare before the Kumbh mela in 2015-16," the official said.
He added that an initial delay in works by the department had held up the administrative approval. The delay was covered up, however, and the department was in a position to issue tenders soon after the approval, he said. The high power committee on the Kumbh mela had set a February-28 deadline for issuing tenders.
Major infrastructure works such as construction of roads by the public works department (PWD) and the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) are underway. The work of building ghats, however, was delayed despite orders from the high powered committee (HPC) - chaired by the chief secretary - that all plans should be cleared by September 2013 and works should begin by December 2013.
The river banks are being readied keeping in mind the number of people coming to bathe during the Kumbh mela. It is estimated that close to 4.5 lakh people would take a dip in the Godavari in an hour. At this rate, nearly 64 lakh people can take the dip in less than 15 hours on each of the three auspicious days during the Kumbh. This would be an added capacity to that already created by the civic body during the last Kumbh mela (2003-04).
The banks will have proper roads marked for entering and leaving the bathing area to avoid congestion. There will be places for people to wait after bathing and measures to ensure safety.
The biggest of the ghats is being constructed between Kannamwar Bridge and Lakshmi Narayan temple on the right bank (RB) of the river. "Here, we have proposed 800 metres of the bank, 20 meters in width. Besides, we have proposed six major roads to come to the banks of the river that will allow people to move in and out of the area. These roads have been linked to those mentioned in the development plans," the official added.