No ‘out-of-turn’ VIP or VVIP darshan during Shravani Mela, says minister Sudivya Kumar
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Deoghar, July 25: To ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage during the State-level Shravani Mela 2026, the Jharkhand…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Deoghar, July 25: To ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage during the State-level Shravani Mela 2026, the Jharkhand government has imposed a complete ban on ‘out-of-turn’ VIP and VVIP darshan, Minister for Urban Development & Housing, Higher & Technical Education, Tourism, Art & Culture, and Sports & Youth Affairs Sudivya Kumar announced during a high-level review meeting held at the Deoghar Circuit House on Saturday.
Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Saurabh Kumar Bhuwania and Dumka Deputy Commissioner Abhijit Sinha made department-wise PowerPoint presentations detailing infrastructure development, pilgrim amenities, safety arrangements and the use of modern technology during the month-long religious fair.
Preparations to Be Completed by July 28
The Minister said the State-level Shravani Mela will be held from July 30 to August 28 and directed all departments to complete their assigned works by July 28.
He stressed that devotees visiting Baba Baidyanath Dham should be able to perform Jal Arpan safely, conveniently and without inconvenience. He also announced a complete ban on preferential VIP and VVIP darshan to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims and avoid disruptions during the fair.
Another review meeting on passenger and pilgrim facilities in Deoghar and Dumka will be held on July 29, he added.
Largest Religious Fair in Jharkhand
Describing the world-famous Shravani Mela as the largest religious gathering in Jharkhand, the Minister said it is the collective responsibility of all departments to ensure that devotees return from Baba Baidyanath Dham with a safe, comfortable and memorable experience.
The meeting reviewed preparations by the Electricity Department, Road Construction Department, Municipal Corporation, Public Relations Department, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Tourism Department, Health Department, Building Construction Department and the Police Department.
Round-the-Clock Facilities for Pilgrims
The Minister directed officials to ensure uninterrupted functioning of all essential facilities, including police outposts, traffic outposts, health centres, information and assistance centres, power stations, tourism centres and maternity rest rooms.
Departments were instructed to keep tent cities, toilets, drinking water points, bathing facilities, sanitation systems, dustbins and waste collection mechanisms fully operational throughout the fair period.
Officials were also directed to ensure proper street lighting, decorative illumination, ceremonial gates, uninterrupted electricity supply and adequate backup lighting to enhance safety and convenience.
Accommodation facilities at the three proposed tent cities will be expanded to accommodate the anticipated influx of pilgrims.
More Cooling Systems, Better Healthcare
Considering the expected heat and humidity, the Minister ordered an increase in the number of mist cooling systems and ‘Indra Varsha’ artificial rain sprinklers across the fair area.
Healthcare infrastructure will also be strengthened with additional medical facilities to ensure prompt treatment for pilgrims.
District officials and National Highway authorities have been instructed to work in close coordination to ensure smooth vehicular movement between Deoghar and Basukinath.
QR-Based Feedback Mechanism
A QR code-based feedback and grievance redressal system will be introduced across the fairgrounds, enabling pilgrims to directly report problems to the district administration for immediate action by the concerned departments.
The Minister also issued additional directions to departmental heads and executive engineers to complete all pending works within the stipulated timeline.
AI to Power Crowd Management and Security
Several advanced technologies will be deployed during Shravani Mela 2026 to improve security, crowd management and pilgrim services. These include:
- AI-based Integrated Fair Control Room
- AI-enabled surveillance cameras
- AI-powered traffic management system
- AI-assisted drones
- AI chatbots for information, feedback and helpline services
- Facial recognition cameras
- Crowd counting systems
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras
- QR code-based complaint system
- Location-based attendance system
- Digital pavilion
Senior Officials Present
Among those present were Deoghar MLA Suresh Paswan, Sarath MLA Uday Shankar Singh, Jarmundi MLA Devendra Kunwar, senior officials from the Energy, Building Construction, Tourism, Disaster Management and Drinking Water & Sanitation Departments, Finance Department, Tourism Directorate, Santhal Pargana Commissioner, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Dumka), Managing Director of JTDC, Joint Director of the Information & Public Relations Department, Superintendents of Police of Deoghar and Dumka, Mayor of Deoghar Municipal Corporation, Deputy Development Commissioners, Municipal Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officers, Civil Surgeons, District Public Relations Officer, Officer-in-Charge (Special Branch), executive engineers of various departments, Assistant Public Relations Officer and members of the DMFT team.
