Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting to discuss road infrastructure preparations for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, which will take place from January 13 to February 26. The event is expected to attract over 43 crore pilgrims, prompting urgent improvements to the state's road network.

Key projects under review include widening the Raebareli-Prayagraj highway, constructing bypasses, and developing a six-lane bridge over the Ganga at Phaphamau. The completion deadline for these projects has been set for December 25, 2024, with a strong emphasis on quality and safety.

During the meeting, Adityanath emphasized the importance of the Kumbh as a major cultural event and instructed officials to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras, streetlights, and medical posts along major highways. Gadkari outlined a comprehensive plan for road development in Uttar Pradesh, with proposals worth Rs 1.39 lakh crore. This includes major upgrades to highways like the Prayagraj-Dohri Ghat road and the Barabanki-Jarwal-Bahraich road.

Other significant initiatives include the completion of bypasses on National Highway-30 and ongoing projects like the Shamli-Gorakhpur and Aligarh-Moradabad-Bijnor corridors. Both leaders also discussed the need to address road safety issues and reduce accidents during the Kumbh.