AI-driven smart parking solutions for pilgrims

Comprehensive plan includes steps to prevent overcrowding at key locations and monitoring of entry points; separate entry and exit routes have been established for all major seven routes leading to the Mela area

- HT Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Ahead of the world's largest religious gathering, a comprehensive traffic plan has been formulated for the Mahakumbh in tune with chief minister Yogi Adityanath's directives for seamless transportation arrangements for pilgrims visiting the mega fair. This includes an AI-driven smart parking management system, steps to prevent overcrowding at key locations and monitoring of entry points for safety and convenience of pilgrims.

Separate entry and exit routes have been established for all major seven routes leading to the Mela area and the number of parking zones have been increased to facilitate prompt vehicle movement, with a strong emphasis on unidirectional traffic flow. Separate routes have been allocated for pilgrims arriving by rail, buses, or private vehicles.

Parking zones are strategically located at 1-2 km away from the bathing ghats, equipped with all essential amenities.

To prepare this plan, the UP government had issued a G.O. on August 25, 2023, constituting a 24-member advisory committee under the chairmanship of the ADG (Prayagraj Zone). This committee was tasked with ensuring proper management, traffic control and other arrangements related to the fair, said a state government spokesperson.

The committee conducted six meetings, and two consultations with stakeholders in management system for the Mahakumbh. Pilgrims visiting Prayagraj can use the app to easily discover, book and pre-pay for a car parking spot at a government approved parking area. Car owners will also be able to use their FASTag on their car to pay for a parking spot, without any human intervention, a first of its kind initiative in Prayagraj.