Minister checks Chhath Puja preparations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

Ahead of the Chhath Puja, Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai today took stock of the arrangements made for the festival and inspected Yamuna ghats in north Delhi.

Up from last time’s 300 ghats, around 565 ghats are being set up along the banks of Yamuna for Chhath Puja, a festival mainly observed by people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh in which devotees offer prayers to the sun.

"Out of 565 ghats, 50 pucca ghats have been constructed for Chhath Puja. The minister has directed the departments concerned to start providing facilities like tents at all ghats from tomorrow," a senior government official said.

The government has also formed a monitoring committee to look after preparations of the ghats. The departments concerned will be making the required facilities available from tomorrow.

The Minister who was accompanied by senior officers of irrigation and flood control department, DJB and revenue department, inspected Kudesia Ghat at Kashmari Gate.

Given the fact Poorvanchali voters constitute a sizeable chunk in the city, the Aam Aadmi Party government started making plans for the Chhat Puja since early this year. In the annual budget 2017-18, the government had made a special allocation too for building Chhath ghats across the city.

Rly Board Chairman reviews arrangements 

Ahead of the Chhat festival rush, Chairman, Railway Board, Ashwani Lohani visited New Delhi railway station to review the arrangements being made to meet the rush.

He visited the catering stalls, RO water vending machines on platform number 16 which is one of the dedicated platforms for East-bound trains during the rush period, booking counter areas and interacted with rail passengers there, a spokesperson said.

Lohani gave directives for regulation of crowds on platforms especially at the unreserved coaches of trains.

He also inspected the foot-over-bridge and the passengers’ Holding Area meant for better crowd regulation.

He also called for close monitoring of reservation centres and surveillance of touting activity in the station area, he said.