NASHIK, July 17, 2013: Trimbakeshwar will get a cover of 174 CCTV cameras to monitor the crowds as it gears up to host the Kumbh Mela in 2015. Lakhs of devotees are expected to reach Trimbakeshwar, about 30 km from here, for the holy dip.

One of the most holy places of Hindu pilgrimage, Trimbakeshwar is the place where the Godavari river originates. The Nashik Kumbh Mela is held at Kushawarta, Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund, Panchavati, every 12 years. While the sadhus of Shaiv sect take the holy dip at Trimbakeshwar, those of Vaishnav sect use the Ramkund. Of the total 13 akhadas of sadhus which participate in the mela, 10 are from the Shaiv sect.

The director general police has recently approved a proposal of installing 174 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the town. The cameras will be installed at a cost of Rs 4.78 crore.

"The rural police had conducted a survey in 2011 for installing CCTV cameras in Trimabakeshwar. As per the survey, it was decided that these cameras were necessary to monitor the flow of pilgrims, sadhus, and vehicles entering the town for the Kumbh mela," said Praveen Padwal, district superintendent of police.

The 174 cameras will be put up at 32 locations in Trimbakeshwar, which will include the Sadhugram, the Shahi Marg (is the procession route of sadhus to reach the Kushawarta area to take the holy bath on the day of Shahi Parvani), the Kushawarta and the temple premises, among other areas, Padwal said.

Chief officer of the Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council, N M Nagare, said the town had seen 20 lakh pilgrims and sadhus converging here to take the holy dip in the river waters during the last Kumbh mela. According to official estimates, the number may double in 2015, given the improved transportation facilities.

To ensure that there is no law and order situation during the mela, the rural police have proposed works worth Rs 42 crore, which includes accommodation facility for cops on bandobast duty, temporary and fibre police chowkies, wireless system equipment, bomb detection and disposal, watch towers, barricading and public address system. According to the police, 3,000 police personnel were deployed at Trimbakeshwar during the last Kumbh, 12 years ago. This year, they were contemplating to double the force.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 17, 2013.