Prayagraj: As Chaitra Navratri has kicked off, a large number of devotees are flocking to Shakti Peeths and temples in the city as well as neighbouring Kaushambi and Pratapgarh. Authorities have rolled out innovative crowd and traffic control measures, with cops keeping a 24/7 watch on arrangements and security.Prayagraj Municipal Corporation has made special arrangements to ensure cleanliness and comfort at Shakti Peeths and temples during Navratri. Sanitation teams are stationed at temples 24/7, and devotees are required to enter in an orderly queue with fans installed for their comfort.Shivanand, the chief priest of the Maa Alop Shankari Shakti Peeth, said all queues have been organised within the confines of the covered sheds. RO water purification units have been installed within the premises to provide clean drinking water. The entire area —from the sanctum sanctorum to the approach roads outside the temple — is under CCTV surveillance. Drone-based monitoring will also be deployed on key days.In the Prayagraj division, various development works have been undertaken at Shakti Peeths and other sacred sites through the joint efforts of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Religious Affairs.The state govt has executed a wide range of projects for temples and religious sites. These initiatives are directly focused on temple development, enhancing amenities, improving connectivity, and implementing administrative reforms. A significant component of these efforts is the project for the construction of temple corridors and beautification in Prayagraj, which is currently being developed in a phased manner.The tourism department has executed various development works at 6 crore for the city’s Maa Alop Shankari Shakti Peeth, and at Maa Kalyani Devi Shakti Peeth at Rs 1 crore.Prayagraj divisional commissioner Saumya Agarwal said that various measures have been undertaken to ensure the convenience of devotees visiting the Shakti Peeths and temples. These initiatives include the renovation and beautification of the temples. Specifically, this encompasses the provision of parking facilities, passenger shelters, restrooms, drinking water, signage, sanitation services, and facade lighting. Development projects worth crores are underway at various Shakti Peeths, including Belhadham Shakti Peeth in Pratapgarh and Maa Sheetla Dham Temple in Kaushambi. These projects include constructing paved ghats, Aarti platforms, and approach roads , with an expenditure exceeding Rs 124 crore.
