The government of Uttar Pradesh, the Indian state, plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for crowd management at the forthcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.
The Maha Kumbh, a religious gathering of Hindus, is held every six years in Prayagraj district of UP and in 2019, over 30 million devotees had visited the holy site. For the 2025 Maha Kumbh, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has urged the police department to use AI-powered tools to assure the safety, cleanliness, and convenience of the millions of pilgrims and tourists anticipated to attend the event.
He said during a meeting with senior officials, “The Kumbh is an interface between India’s rich religious and cultural heritage and the world. Therefore, there is a need to ensure safety, convenience and cleanliness at the event.”
AI-powered technologies will monitor crowd density to prevent congestion and disruptions, providing real-time analysis of crowd movements for effective control and reducing the risk of accidents.
The Chief Minister has instructed staff to develop a comprehensive action and contingency plan for the event. Additionally, he has urged agencies to assist in organizing and globally promoting the event to enhance the image of Uttar Pradesh and India.
He emphasized the importance of training police officers to be friendly, soft-spoken, yet firm with pilgrims and visitors, ensuring a welcoming and orderly atmosphere.
He also examined tourist department projects, directing the early completion of the corridor connecting Akshay Vat, Saraswati Koop, and Patalpuri Temple, with potential aid from the Indian Army unit in Prayagraj.
The Kumbh Mela is one of the world’s greatest religious gatherings, occurring every 12 years in four different locales in India: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. It attracts millions of devotees who bathe in sacred rivers to cleanse their sins and seek salvation.
This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela is projected to last 45 days, from January 15 to February 26, 2025. The event will cover 4000 hectares, up from 3200 hectares in 2019, demonstrating its increasing size and significance.
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