Police Traffic Notice for 30–31 October: Godaghat a No-Vehicle Zone, Roads to Ramtirth Shut 6 AM to Midnight on 31 October, Diversions and Eight Parking Spots; IIM Nagpur Expects 2.25 Crore on Amrit Snan Days

The police traffic notice for the flag-hoisting days is out. On 24 October we wrote that it had not been published yet (parking and dry-day story). Sakal reported on 25 October that Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Chandrakant Gawali has issued a special notice for 30 and 31 October. REPORTED: the details below are from Sakal's summary of the notice. We have not seen the notice itself.

The headline: Ramtirth and the whole Godaghat will be a no-vehicle zone on both days.

Friday 30 October: Dharmadhwaj procession

• Restrictions from 6 AM until the procession ends. This does not mean the procession starts at 6 AM. Earlier reports gave a start time between 1 PM and 3 PM.
• Route in the notice: Tapovan ground, Aathvan Lawns, Tapovan crossing, Panchmukhi Hanuman temple, Katya Maruti Chowk, Devi Chowk, Ganeshwadi, Gadge Maharaj bridge, Ahilyabai Holkar bridge, Ramtirth.
• Closed to all vehicles except those in the procession: Ashok Stambh to Ravivar Karanja, Red Cross signal to Dhumal Point, Malegaon Stand to Makhmalabad Naka, and Dindori Naka to Malegaon Stand.

Diversions:

• Dindori Naka, Peth Naka, Makhmalabad Naka, Goda Park, Gajbhiye petrol pump, Gangapur Naka.
• CBS, Meher signal, Ashok Stambh, old Gangapur Naka, Phadol Chowk, Bazar Samiti signal, Amrutdham Chowk.
• Peth Naka, APMC signal, Tarwala signal, Amrutdham Chowk, Mirchi Chowk.
• Dindori Naka, Tarwala signal, Amrutdham Chowk, Mirchi Chowk.
• From Dwarka towards the Bali temple: use the flyover.

The route: sources differ

The route in the police notice stays mostly in Panchavati and goes via Ganeshwadi and Gadge Maharaj bridge. The NMC route given to the Times of India went via the flower market, Delhi Darwaza, Nehru Chowk, Main Road and Ravivar Karanja. Saamana's version went via Dhumal Point, Main Road, Ravivar Karanja and Malegaon Stand (both earlier versions). The police notice is the most authoritative of the three. But it also closes Ashok Stambh to Ravivar Karanja and Red Cross to Dhumal Point, which are not on its own route, and the summary does not explain why. Sakal may have shortened the route, so check on the day.

Saturday 31 October: flag hoisting and Goda aarti

• From 6 AM to midnight, the main roads to Ramtirth are fully closed.

Closed:

• Ashok Stambh, Ravivar Karanja, Malegaon Stand, Dindori Naka.
• Makhmalabad Naka, Malegaon Stand, Ramtirth.
• Kapaleshwar temple, Sardar Chowk, Gauri Patangan, Ramtirth.
• Khandve hall, Malviya Chowk, Panchavati Karanja.
• The road from Shani Chowk to Ramtirth.
• No traffic on Ram Setu bridge.

Diversions:

• Dindori Naka, Peth Naka signal, Makhmalabad Naka, Goda Park, Chopda Lawns, Gangapur Naka.
• CBS, Meher, Ashok Stambh, old Gangapur Naka, Dream Castle, Phadol Chowk, Tarwala signal, Amrutdham Chowk.
• Peth Naka, APMC signal, Tarwala Nagar, Amrutdham Chowk, Mirchi Chowk.
• Dindori Naka, Tarwala signal, Amrutdham Chowk, Mirchi Chowk.

Where to park, and how to walk in

Sakal prints eight parking spots with the notice, each with a way in and a walking route to the ghat. It lists them after the 31 October changes and does not say whether they also apply on 30 October.

• Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Garden: Drive in via: Gangapur Road. Walk to the ghat via: Veterinary hospital, Siddheshwar temple, under Ahilyabai Holkar bridge, Ekmukhi Datta temple, Gandhi Talav.
• Ashok Stambh–Ravivar Karanja area (exact spot not given): Drive in via: Gangapur Road, Ashok Stambh, Ravivar Karanja. Walk to the ghat via: Saraf Bazar, Bhandi Bazar, Nilkantheshwar ghat, Gandhi Talav.
• Shivaji Maharaj Stadium: Drive in via: Ashok Stambh or CBS, via Meher signal. Walk to the ghat via: Red Cross signal, Dhumal T-point, Nehru Chowk, Rokdoba ground.
• Rungtha School: Drive in via: Gangapur Road, Ashok Stambh. Walk to the ghat via: Siddheshwar temple, Sambhaji Maharaj Garden, under Holkar bridge, Gandhi Talav.
• B.D. Bhalekar ground: Drive in via: Modak signal or Khadkali signal. Walk to the ghat via: Shalimar, Red Cross signal, Dhumal T-point, Nehru Chowk, Rokdoba ground.
• Shinde Mala (from Tapovan): Drive in via: Tapovan crossing, under Kannamwar bridge, Amardham Road. Walk to the ghat via: Gauri Patangan, Mhasoba Patangan, old Bhaji Patangan.
• Shinde Mala (from the highway): Drive in via: Tractor House, Nanavali police post, under Amardham bridge. Walk to the ghat via: Gauri Patangan, Mhasoba Patangan, old Bhaji Patangan.
• Gauri Patangan: Drive in via: Ganeshwadi Devi Chowk, flower market. Walk to the ghat via: Old Bhaji Patangan.

No parking on Dindori Naka to Panchavati Karanja, Ravivar Karanja to Red Cross signal, Meher signal to Red Cross signal, or on any walking route for devotees.

What changed since the 23 October letter

The 23 October police letter to the NMC listed eight spots to keep free of stalls. The notice, as Sakal prints it, adds Shinde Mala and Gauri Patangan. It does not list Government Girls' School (CBS), Holkar bridge or Indrakund. Malegaon Stand to Makhmalabad Naka, a parking stretch in the letter, is now a closed road on both days. Treat the notice as the current plan.

Further ahead: IIM Nagpur's crowd estimate for the Kumbh (REPORTED)

ABP Majha reported on 26 October that IIM Nagpur has been chosen as the consultant for crowd and traffic management during the Simhastha. Its director, Dr Bhimaraya Metri, told the channel:

• About 2.25 crore people could be in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar on an Amrit (Shahi) Snan day, and at least 10 lakh a day on other Kumbh days.
• IIM Nagpur's job is to validate the mobility plan prepared by local officials. A drone survey is under way. Traffic simulation and a LiDAR survey will follow once the first mobility plan arrives.
• There will be separate routes for people on foot and for vehicles, emergency routes for sudden crowd surges, and parking outside both towns, by direction of arrival.
• He said everything should be finalised within a month.

These are a consultant's estimates, not official figures. Our earlier story mentioned a consortium of IIM Nagpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Tirupati running crowd simulations. Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan told ETV Bharat on 25 October that he expects more than 12 crore devotees over the whole Kumbh.

Also from Trimbakeshwar (REPORTED, Navbharat, 25 October)

• Senior saints have begun arriving at the akhadas ahead of 31 October.
• A large pandal is going up in the Teli Galli area. Security is being tightened around Kushavarta, Teli Galli, Main Road and the temple.
• The forest department caught 12 monkeys near Kushavarta on Friday, out of a troop of 18 to 20, and plans to release them in a nearby sanctuary.

Plan for the two days

• Do not drive towards Panchavati on 30 or 31 October. Use one of the parking spots above and walk in.
• On 31 October, the roads stay closed until midnight, so plan the trip back after the evening aarti too.
• Liquor shops within 2 km of Ramtirth and in Trimbakeshwar stay shut on both days (details).

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