Uttar Pradesh to upgrade key bridge ahead of Kumbh Mela 2025
The Naini Bridge is among India’s longest cable-stayed bridges (Photo: District Prayagraj)
With tens of millions of devotees and tourists expected to turn up on the banks of the Yamuna River at Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela in January 2025, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Ministry has unveiled a plan to beautify Naini Bridge, a key bridge on the river and which is frequented by the pilgrims during the Kumbh, said to be the largest religious gathering in the world.
In a press statement, the tourism ministry has announced installation of façade lights at the 1.5 km long bridge at a cost of INR 112 million. The beautification of the bridge is part of overall efforts of the UP government to enhance the state’s tourist hotspots, with a particular emphasis on spiritual tourism.
According to the figures released by UP Tourism, the state recorded a total of 330 million tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2024, with Ayodhya, the site of Ram Temple, accounting for around one-third of the total figure with 110 million visitors. Varanasi, Mathura and Prayagraj, as Allahabad is also referred to, recorded a footfall of 46.1 million, 30.7 million and 45.4 million tourists respectively.
Jaiveer Singh
Over the past few months the government has been undertaking several measures and projects to further boost tourism in Uttar Pradesh including investing in hospitality projects, and providing financial assistance to recognised travel agencies.
“The Tourism Department is consistently working on the development of tourist spots and facilities. In this regard, the decision to install facade lighting on the Naini Bridge has not only been taken but the process has also begun. An initial fund of INR 40 million has already been released and the work will start soon. Our aim is to make Naini Bridge a major attraction for tourists with facade lighting before the Maha Kumbh 2025” says Jaiveer Singh, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
