ON A cold winter morning, the tranquil air of Parade Ground in Sangam is broken by murmurs of a group of young men, their attention fixed on a massive poster in the corner. Their phones were pointed at the poster’s edges that had four QR codes – the one-stop guide for people of the digital age for all activities at this year’s Maha Kumbh – believed to be a centuries-old festival where millions of people partake in ancient rituals by the riverside. Prayagraj is estimated to have 40 to 45 crore visitors during Maha Kumbh, which will be held between January 13 and February 26. Sandeep, a 24-year-old trained electrician hired to put up tents all over the Sangam area explained: “One is for the Kumbh Administration, another for Emergency Assistance, one for Hotels and Food, and the last one for Achievements of Uttar Pradesh.” “We don’t know the exact locations, so we’re scanning these QR codes to help us get to our respective places,” he added. The large poster had images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and each QR code offered a glimpse into the organised operations behind the Kumbh Mela where even the smallest task, like setting up tents, required precise coordination.

 

A WhatsApp number next to each code also offered real-time assistance. Sandeep and his companions weren’t the only ones. Around them, others were scanning the same QR codes, perhaps looking for something as simple as directions or as vital as emergency help. They were part of a vast, unseen network, seamlessly integrated into the operations of one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. The State Government has also signed an MoU with Google Maps under which it will display all roads and important places in the Mahakumbh Nagar that can be accessed by anyone. Hardly a stone’s throw away from the bustling heart of Mahakumbh Nagar, nestled on the first floor of the Mela Administration complex, lies the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) – the nerve centre of operations for the Maha Kumbh 2025.

 

This state-of-the-art facility is unlike anything the city has seen before, a digital fortress designed to oversee every minute detail of the grandest religious gathering in the world. From the flow of traffic on the roads leading into the heart of Prayagraj to the entry of crowds into Mahakumbh Nagar, from vehicle parking to the movement of millions in and around the sprawling Sangam grounds, the ICCC keeps a watchful eye on it all. There is no corner, no alley, no entry point that is beyond the reach of the system, officials claim.