State tourism team inspects Gaya, directs coordinated preparations for pilgrimage season
Senior officials of the Bihar tourism department on Monday carried out a field inspection in Gaya and Bodh Gaya, reviewing ongoing infrastructure projects and finalising arrangements for the upcoming Pitripaksh Mela, a fortnight-long pilgrimage observed at key religious sites in the district. The review, recorded in a press release signed by district public relations officer Deepak Chandra Dev, focused on cleanliness, security, traffic management and basic amenities for pilgrims.
The team that led the inspection included tourism secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, director Udayan Mishra, joint secretary Pradeep Kumar Singh and Gaya district magistrate Shashank Shubhankar. Officials visited development works under way in and around the pilgrimage circuit and assessed readiness of services likely to be under pressure during the mela.
This year’s Pitripaksh Mela is scheduled to begin on Sept 25 and conclude on Oct 10.
During the visit, the delegation examined arrangements related to municipal cleanliness, temporary sanitation facilities, potable water supply, lighting at ghats and pathways, as well as traffic flow and parking at approaches to important religious sites. They also reviewed plans for crowd control and coordination with local police and emergency services to ensure pilgrim safety and access.
- Officials directed heightened coordination among departments to provide uninterrupted services during the mela.
- Emphasis was placed on cleanliness, adequate basic amenities and lighting at pilgrimage sites and ghats.
- Security and traffic management plans were reviewed with instructions for smooth entry and exit of pilgrims.
The review team asked district and municipal authorities to ensure that ongoing development works were completed or insulated from disrupting pilgrim movement. They underscored the need for contingency plans to manage large flows of visitors arriving from across India and abroad, especially at peak hours and days during the fortnight-long event.
| Official | Designation |
|---|---|
| Lokesh Kumar Singh | Tourism Secretary |
| Udayan Mishra | Director |
| Pradeep Kumar Singh | Joint Secretary |
| Shashank Shubhankar | Gaya District Magistrate |
Gaya and nearby Bodh Gaya are among Bihar’s most visited pilgrimage destinations; the administration’s review reflects the annual task of balancing infrastructure upgrades with the immediate logistical needs of the mela. The press release highlighted that authorities were taking steps to ensure adequate facilities and services for the large number of pilgrims expected during the event.
District officials were instructed to finalise traffic diversions, set up temporary medical and first-aid points, and ensure visible signages in multiple languages where required. Coordination between tourism, municipal, police, health and public works departments was made mandatory to provide a hassle-free experience for visitors.
Local businesses, transport operators and accommodation providers in Gaya and Bodh Gaya will be directly affected by the arrangements, while municipal agencies will be responsible for maintaining cleanliness and sanitation standards throughout the mela period. The administration’s directives aim to minimise disruption to daily life in the city while handling the additional strain on services during the pilgrimage.
With less than a month to go before the mela’s start date, officials said they would continue inspections and inter-departmental meetings to monitor progress and address gaps in infrastructure and service delivery.
