Lok Sabha Question No. 870 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Financial Assistance for Kumbh Mela
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., T. RADHAKRISHNAN, S. RAJENDRAN, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.870 ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR KUMBH MELA

## 870.  SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made arrangements for pilgrims who are expected to visit the 49 days Kumbh Mela to begin in January 2019 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  any  proposal  has  been  received  from  the  State Government for financial and other assistance for organising the event smoothly;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto along with the assistance provided/being provided by the Government;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  advertise  Kumbh Mela in the global market to attract foreign tourists and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  further  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for smooth organising of Kumbh Mela?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

- (a): Yes, Madam. As reported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, following  arrangements  have  been  made  for  the  pilgrims  who  are expected to visit the 49 day Kumbh Mela to begin in January, 2019:
- (b):
-  Construction and widening of public roads
- Construction  of  parking  spots  at  short  distances  from
-  mela area
-  Provision of shuttle buses for the convenience of pilgrims
-  Digital  signages  at  systematic  points  to  ensure  smooth flow of traffic
-  Construction of toilets to maintain cleanliness and hygiene
-  Setting up of LED lights in the mela area
- 
- Erection of tents for the use of tourists
-  Convention  halls  and  pandals  for  serving  as  hub  of cultural events
-  Deployment of telecommunication services, banking services and water ATMs in the Mela area
-  Setting  up  of  integrated  command  and  control  centre including CCTV cameras for the security of tourists
- No, Madam.
- (c): Does not arise.
- (d): Yes, Madam. The measures being taken by the Government to advertise  Kumbh  Mela  in  the  global  market  to  attract  foreign tourists are as below:
-  Launch  of  'Chalo  Kumbh  Chalo'  campaign  across  the country
-  Engagement  of  professional  agency  to  design,  develop and  implement  the  branding  and  marketing  campaigns for Kumbh, 2019
-  Setting up of advertisements at major international airports of the country to attract foreign tourists
- Development  of  a  designated  area  for  flag  hoisting  for
-  192 countries visiting Kumbh Mela
-  Organising the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas', 2019 in Varanasi to attract 'Pravasi Bharatiya Delegates' to visit Kumbh, 2019
- (e): Further  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  smooth organising of Kumbh Mela are as below:
-  Drawing out of a detailed Movement and Parking Plan for convenient approach to and from parking areas
-  Identification and development  of holding areas for crowd control during the Mela period
-  Deployment of digital signages in the Mela area to guide visitors towards places of interest and dissemination of crucial information by Government and law enforcement agencies

 Deployment of dustbins for solid waste management Engagement  of  Ganga  Praharis  and  Swacchagrahis  for helping  gather  community  participation  and  awareness

-  towards conservation of River Ganga.

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