Guwahati | With lakhs of devotees expected to converge on the sacred Nilachal Hills for the annual Ambubachi Mela, the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration and Guwahati Traffic Police have unveiled an extensive operational plan aimed at ensuring smooth crowd management, traffic regulation and pilgrim welfare during the four-day religious congregation.

The arrangements were announced at a press conference held at the Kamakhya Temple premises, attended by Kamrup Metropolitan District Commissioner Swapnil Paul, Traffic DCP Jayanta Sarathi Bora and Kamakhya Temple Chief Pujari Kabindra Sharma.

Officials said the preparations focus on pilgrim accommodation, transportation, drinking water supply, emergency medical services and security management, with special measures introduced to handle the massive influx of visitors expected during the event.

“The administration has made comprehensive arrangements keeping in mind the comfort, safety and convenience of devotees. Our objective is to ensure that pilgrims can participate in the mela without facing unnecessary difficulties,” Paul said.

To accommodate arriving pilgrims, two major transit camps will be established in collaboration with the Tourism Department – one at Kamakhya Railway Station and another near Pandu Port. The camps will provide food, drinking water, medical assistance, resting facilities and luggage storage services.

Officials clarified that transportation services will operate only between the two transit camps. Pilgrims travelling to the temple will have to proceed on foot through the designated route from the Nursery area to the shrine.

“There will be no transport arrangement from the camps directly to the temple premises. Devotees will access the shrine through the prescribed route, where adequate facilities have been put in place,” Paul said.

To ensure real-time coordination and rapid response during the mela, four round-the-clock control rooms will be set up at key locations, including the Kamakhya foothill area, Nursery point, VIP parking zone near Prashanti Lodge and Banshibagan. Senior officials from multiple departments, including police, public health engineering, public works and electricity, will be stationed at these centres.

Additionally, seven service camps will operate along the pilgrimage route to provide assistance and support to devotees.

Given the prevailing heat conditions, authorities have prioritised drinking water arrangements. The Public Health Engineering Department has installed pipelines and water distribution facilities at around 30 locations along the mela route to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.

Medical preparedness has also been strengthened, with ambulances and emergency response teams deployed round the clock. A dedicated ferry service between Sonaram Field and Kamakhya via Pandu Port will be available primarily for officials and personnel engaged in mela management duties.

The main police camp for the event will function from Naharbari, while administrative personnel will remain stationed at service camps to assist pilgrims and coordinate emergency responses.

On the traffic front, DCP Jayanta Sarathi Bora announced a series of restrictions and diversions to ease congestion during the mela period. Dedicated parking facilities have been arranged at Adabari Bus Stand, Boripara Playground, ITA Machkhowa, ASTC Machkhowa and Eidgah Field.

Commercial goods vehicles and slow-moving transport will be barred from major roads between 5 am and 11 pm. Restrictions will also be imposed on the movement of long-distance and inter-district buses along key city routes.

Roadside parking will be prohibited on Pandu Port Road, Borbazar Road, DG Road, the Nilachal Flyover and sections of the city’s elevated corridor. Authorities have advised air travellers heading to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to plan their journeys in advance and use NH-27 wherever feasible.

Local residents will be permitted to use the lower service roads of Nilachal Hill, subject to prevailing traffic conditions, Bora said.

Security agencies are preparing for an unprecedented turnout, with officials estimating that nearly 10 lakh devotees may attend this year’s Ambubachi Mela. Extensive surveillance measures, including CCTV monitoring at strategic locations, have been put in place to maintain law and order and identify any suspicious activities.

In a significant announcement, Bora stated that no special privileges would be extended to VIPs or VVIPs during the mela. “There will be no separate arrangements for VIPs or VVIPs. All devotees will be subject to the same rules and regulations,” he said.

Chief Pujari Kabindra Sharma appealed to devotees to cooperate with authorities and adhere to the prescribed guidelines to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual festival.

The Ambubachi Mela, one of the country’s largest religious gatherings centred around the revered Kamakhya Temple, will begin with the closure of the temple doors from June 23 to June 25. The shrine will reopen on the morning of June 26 following the traditional ceremonial bath of the deity, marking the culmination of the annual observance.