Maha Kumbh 2025: Seamless Connectivity for World’s Largest Religious Gathering
Prayagraj, January 28, 2025: The Maha Kumbh 2025, the world’s largest religious congregation, is witnessing an unprecedented focus on seamless connectivity to accommodate over 40 crore attendees. With millions converging daily at the holy confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, telecom providers and authorities have implemented cutting-edge infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted communication and internet services.
Telecom Revolution at Maha Kumbh
To manage the massive influx of devotees, telecom giants like Airtel, BSNL, Jio, and Vi have collaborated with the Maha Kumbh Mela administration to enhance network capacity through:
- 328 new towers installed across Prayagraj.
- 575 upgraded Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) for robust connectivity.
- 92 km of optical fibre laid for high-speed internet.
- Deployment of 78 Cells on Wheels (CoWs) and 150 small-cell solutions to manage dense crowds.
These measures ensure that even with record teledensity at the venue, attendees experience zero call drops and high-speed internet access.
Integrated Command and Disaster Management
Three disaster management centres, equipped with the latest communication technologies, have been established in Jhusi, Arail, and Sangam to ensure emergency response during crises.
According to Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional District Magistrate of Mahakumbh Nagar:
“Mobile connectivity minimizes the fear of losing loved ones in crowded areas, enables digital payments, and facilitates instant communication during emergencies.”
The centres also utilize advanced alert systems, including:
- Cell Broadcast Alert Facilities: Delivering real-time disaster warnings.
- Common Alerting Protocol (CAP): Ensuring public safety through emergency notifications.
Enhanced Telecom Infrastructure
To support millions of daily visitors, telecom providers have undertaken significant upgrades:
- Airtel: Installed 287 new sites, optimized 340 existing ones, and laid 74 km of fibre.
- BSNL: Provided enhanced broadband coverage with 26 km of fibre in Prayagraj and additional fixed towers for city-wide connectivity.
- Jio and Vi: Strengthened coverage in high-footfall areas like railway stations, highways, and hotels.
Help desks: 53 kiosks have been set up across the mela to assist with lost devices, fraud reports, and other telecom issues.
Technological Innovations for Public Safety
The Ministry of Telecom has prioritized public health and safety through measures such as:
- Conducting electromagnetic radiation testing to ensure compliance with permissible limits.
- Establishing war rooms equipped with extra generators and critical equipment for rapid response to network disruptions.
- Optimizing networks to handle data traffic in high-density areas, even with six people per square meter.
The Role of Connectivity in Devotee Experience
Seamless communication has transformed the Maha Kumbh experience. Digital payments, instant location sharing, and real-time updates have simplified logistics and enhanced safety for millions of attendees.
A senior official at the Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) stated:
“With telecom providers upgrading their services, Maha Kumbh 2025 exemplifies how technology can support such a vast and culturally significant event.”
A New Milestone for Telecom in India
The infrastructure enhancements for Maha Kumbh 2025 represent a milestone in India’s telecom evolution, showcasing the ability to deliver seamless connectivity at an event of this magnitude.
As over 10 crore devotees prepare to take a dip on Mauni Amavasya, the collaborative efforts of telecom providers, government bodies, and the mela administration have ensured that the Maha Kumbh sets a benchmark for managing connectivity in high-density environments.
Maha Kumbh 2025: Seamless Connectivity for World’s Largest Religious Gathering
