Patna: A thorough inspection of more than 15 Chhath Ghats along the bank of river Ganga in Patna was conducted by key district officials, including District Magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra, and Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar, accompanied by other senior officials.
Commencing from Digha Patipul Ghat at 11:00 am, the officials embarked on a three-hour journey, covering more than 15 ghats on foot. The inspection covered a range of ghats from Digha Patipul to Mahendru Ghat in preparation for the upcoming Chhath Puja.
Encompassing approximately 11 kilometers, the officials evaluated the current state of preparations at each ghat, providing necessary instructions. Sector officials were deputed at all ghats during the inspection.
The inspected ghats included Shiva Ghat, Digha Patipul Ghat, Minar Ghat, Digha Post Office Ghat, JP Setu Western Ghat, JP Setu Eastern Ghat, Gate Number 93 Ghat, Gate Number- 88 Ghat, Gate Number- 83 Ghat, Balupar Ghat, Kurji Ghat, LCT Ghat, Razapur Pul Ghat, Pahalwan Ghat, Bans Ghat, Collectorate Ghat, and Mahendru Ghat.
District Magistrate Singh, SSP Mishra, and Municipal Commissioner Parashar primarily focused on assessing the approach road, parking facilities, underpasses, barricading of the ghats, construction of passenger sheds, lighting, toilet and drinking water arrangements, and control rooms. The officials reviewed preparations concerning the water level of the Ganga, cleanliness, security, crowd management, and traffic control, offering necessary instructions.
The inspection also identified certain ghats as potentially dangerous. Minar Ghat, LCT Ghat, and Rajapur Pul Ghat were highlighted by the Superintending Engineer of the Water Resources Department for their precarious conditions, including high vertical depth, steep slopes, erosion, and soil instability. Pahalwan Ghat was excluded from the list of dangerous ghats based on reports from sub-divisional officers and sub-divisional police officers.
District Magistrate Singh emphasized that the administration is committed to ensuring the safety, convenience, and successful organization of Chhath Puja. A dedicated traffic management plan, smooth approach roads, obstacle-free vehicular movement, good lighting arrangements, robust passenger sheds, CCTV monitoring, drone surveillance, and vigilant river patrolling are among the comprehensive measures adopted for the event.
DM Singh assured that the administration is fully prepared for crowd management, security arrangements, and traffic control, prioritizing law and order during the Chhath Puja celebrations. The vigilant coordination among various departments and quality completion of all tasks on time are crucial components of the administration’s strategy.
