Guwahati: The Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration on Thursday held a press conference at the Kamakhya Temple to brief the public on preparations for the upcoming Ambubachi Mela.
The press conference was attended by Kamrup Metro District Commissioner Swapnil Paul, Chief Doloi Kobindra Sharma, and Guwahati Traffic DCP Jayanta Sarathi Bora.
District Commissioner Swapnil Paul said two major camps will be set up for devotees — one at Kamakhya Railway Station and another at Pandu Port. Food, healthcare and other essential facilities will be available at both camps.
ASTC buses will operate between Kamakhya Railway Station and the Pandu camp. However, there will be no transport service from the camps to the temple. Devotees will have to walk to the temple through the Nursery route.
Special arrangements have been made for keeping footwear at the Nursery main gate. Four control rooms will be established at Nursery Point, VIP Parking, Prashanti Lodge and Banshi Bagan.
The administration will also set up seven service camps at different locations this year. Due to the hot weather, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department will install water pipelines at 30 locations to provide drinking water and water-spraying facilities.
Round-the-clock emergency services will remain available during the mela. All emergency vehicles will use the Pandu route. Ferry services will also be available between Sonaram Playground and Kamakhya. The main police camp will be located at Naharbari. Three government officials will be deployed at each service camp.
Traffic DCP Jayanta Sarathi Bora said no vehicles will be allowed from the Nursery foothill area, except essential vehicles of departments such as PWD and GMC. Vehicles with special permission must use the Pandu route.
Vehicles coming from Jalukbari will have to drop passengers near Swagat Hospital, while vehicles arriving from Bharalu side will drop passengers near Vishwakarma Temple.
Parking facilities will be available at Adabari Bus Stand, Eidgah Ground, Boripara Playground, ITA Machkhowa and ASTC Machkhowa.
Local residents will be allowed to use the service road below Nilachal Hill. The administration also clarified that there will be no special arrangements for VIPs and VVIPs.
Police said strict monitoring of the movement of sadhus and ascetics will be carried out to prevent any illegal activities. Necessary action will be taken against anyone found violating the law.
The police and administration are expecting around 10 lakh devotees to visit Kamakhya during this year’s Ambubachi Mela.
