Rs 385 cr budget approved for 89 new Mahakumbh project

The Chief Secretary, Durga Shankar Mishra, has announced the approval of a budget of Rs 385 crore for 89 new projects aimed at the Mahakumbh event in 2025.

With the in-principle consent secured, the momentum for these projects will now pick up. Among the approved projects are 12 initiatives from Motilal Nehru Medical College worth Rs 56 crores, as well as 18 projects from the health department. Additionally, the power corporation has received approval for 10 projects totaling Rs 66 crores, the Public Works Department has been granted 37 projects worth Rs 156 crores, and the Jal Sansthan has secured approval for three projects valued at Rs 15 crores.

Kumbh Mela Adhikari, Vijay Kiran Anand, presented the proposals for the 89 projects to the apex committee on Monday. The meeting was attended online by Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant and District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri. The medical college and its associated hospital, SRN Hospital, will see various developments, including an expanded OPD, the construction of a waiting room, the establishment of a modular kitchen for improved patient meals, the installation of a 300 KL overhead tank tube well, submersible pumps, water supply pipes, three RO units, and a 25 KV system within the hospital premises. The committee has also approved utility shifting of generators, the addition of a 20-bed burn and plastic surgery ward in the hospital, and the establishment of a centralized diagnostic center.

Furthermore, Manohar Das Eye Hospital will witness the construction of a waiting room, registration counter, main gate, security cabin, modern kitchen, washroom, guest house, and auditorium on its college campus.

The health department has received a budget of Rs 39 crore for its 18 approved projects. These initiatives encompass the construction of two toilets in Beli Hospital, the renovation of toilets in wards, the refurbishment of the Yamuna block, the creation of a parking area near gate number two, the construction of a 30-bed night shelter on the ground and first floor, and the development of toilets and 20 new wards adjacent to the OT. Additionally, the committee has approved the construction of ambulance and general parking spaces, as well as an OPD registration room on the ground floor of Dufferin Hospital.

Two projects from the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) have been allocated a budget of Rs 43 crore, with approval granted for road widening on both sides of the High Court flyover.

The approved projects span various departments. These include 10 projects totaling Rs 66 crores from the power corporation, 37 projects worth Rs 156 crores from the Public Works Department, three projects amounting to Rs 15 crores from the Jal Sansthan, 18 projects valued at Rs 39 crores from the health department, a project worth Rs 4.5 crores from the Municipal Corporation, six projects totaling Rs four crores from UPSRTC, and two projects from the PDA worth Rs 43 crores.