Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Ganga Sagar Mela, to be held on Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is set to visit the island today to review the final stages of preparation. She is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a flyover connecting the island to the mainland today.
To ensure foolproof security for devotees attending the Mela, the Government of West Bengal has partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for satellite navigation.
ISRO's NavIC technology to be deployed
For this year's Ganga Sagar Mela, the South 24 Parganas district administration will be using ISRO's NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) technology. All vessels and buses carrying pilgrims will be monitored using the satellite-based navigation system that will provide real-time location and precise timing data. If any vehicle strays from its designated route, automated alerts will be sent to the Mega Control Room, allowing continuous tracking and quick response, News18 reported. Along with satellite navigation, CCTV cameras, and drones will be used by the district administration to monitor crowd movement.
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Nearly 54 kilometres of metal and temporary barricades are being put up to manage crowds. The district administration will be putting up signage providing directions along all roads, locations, and pilgrim facilities. The government is ensuring that all roads will be illuminated with various colours, enabling easy identification of routes.
Mamata Banerjee to lay foundation stone of new bridge
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit the island today for a review of the preparations. She is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a flyover from Kakdwip to Sagar Island, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the locals.
The bridge is planned to be constructed over the Muriganga River. It will connect Kakdwip with Sagar Island. Currently, road travel is possible only up to Kakdwip, beyond which passengers and vehicles have to cross the river by ferry or trawler. The one-way ferry journey takes about 45 minutes and is frequently affected by fog, tidal conditions, and siltation, causing repeated inconvenience to pilgrims during the Mela.
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The new flyover, once made, will not benefit the pilgrims visiting the island during Mela, but will be greatly helpful for the approximately four lakh residents of Sagar Island. Sagar Island is vulnerable to cyclones and other natural calamities. The bridge will let the district administration reach the island faster to provide disaster relief. While also significantly improving day-to-day connectivity, the movement of agricultural and industrial products from the island will also be made easier.
