With lakhs of Kanwariyas expected to arrive, Uttar Pradesh has launched one of its biggest annual administrative exercises as CM Yogi Adityanath reviews security, traffic, and civic preparations across Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up preparations for the annual Kanwar Yatra, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing all departments to complete arrangements well before the pilgrimage begins on July 30. Chairing a late-night review meeting in Ghaziabad on Friday, the chief minister reviewed security measures, traffic management, CCTV surveillance, and civic infrastructure for the yatra, which will conclude on August 11 on the occasion of Shravan Shivratri.
Senior officials from the Meerut and Saharanpur divisions, along with representatives from Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, attended the meeting. Those present included Ghaziabad Police Commissioner J Ravindra Goud, Gautam Budh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh, divisional commissioners, district magistrates, and senior police officials.
Extensive Kanwar Route Through Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad remains one of the most important transit districts for the Kanwar Yatra.
The primary pilgrimage route stretches 25 kilometres from Muradnagar to Tila Morh and another 42.5 kilometres from Meerut's Kadrabad border to the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. An additional 53-kilometre route runs along the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, while parts of National Highway 9 will also witness traffic diversions during the yatra.
Every year, lakhs of Kanwariyas pass through Ghaziabad after collecting holy water from Haridwar, Gangotri, and other pilgrimage sites. To ensure smooth movement, traffic police are preparing detailed diversion plans, with the final route map expected to be released in the coming days.
Security, Surveillance and Civic Upgrades
During the review meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to maintain adequate police deployment across the pilgrimage route and take strict action against individuals attempting to spread rumours or misinformation through social media or other digital platforms.
He also directed the Public Works Department to repair roads, eliminate potholes, clear roadside vegetation, and remove garbage and debris before the yatra begins.
According to the district information department, CCTV cameras will be installed across the entire route, supported by drone surveillance to strengthen security monitoring.
Additional District Magistrate (City) Vikas Kashyap said the chief minister also directed that all meat shops along the Kanwar routes remain closed during the yatra, while liquor shops must either remain shut or be covered from public view throughout the pilgrimage.
Officials said Ghaziabad has been divided into 11 zones and 24 sectors to ensure seamless coordination of security, traffic, sanitation, and emergency services.
Appeal to Kanwariyas and Organisers
Speaking at a separate event in Muradnagar, the chief minister urged Kanwariyas and organisers to cooperate with the administration and maintain discipline throughout the pilgrimage.
He appealed to devotees to keep the volume of DJ systems within permissible limits and ensure that the height of decorated Kanwars does not exceed prescribed standards, allowing the movement of pilgrims and traffic to remain smooth.
Gautam Budh Nagar Also Intensifies Preparations
Preparations are also underway in neighbouring Gautam Budh Nagar.
District Magistrate Medha Roopam chaired a high-level review meeting on Saturday to assess readiness along major Kanwar routes, including the Kherli canal stretch, Jarcha-Samana Road, GT Road under NHAI, Lal Kuan-Dadri Road, and the Samtal Chowki corridor.
Officials were instructed to complete pothole repairs, clear roadside vegetation, prevent waterlogging, strengthen traffic management, remove encroachments, and improve street lighting within fixed deadlines.
The Public Works Department has been asked to prioritise barricading and signage near the Kherli canal bridge in Dankaur, an area that regularly faces waterlogging during the monsoon.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed four dewatering pumps at vulnerable locations along the route. The district magistrate has also sought detailed deployment plans from NHAI and other departments to facilitate coordinated inspections and ensure all deficiencies are addressed before pilgrims begin arriving.
Street Lighting Project for Peripheral Villages
Separately, the Greater Noida Authority has approved the installation of around 2,600 LED streetlights across 17 villages, including Surajpur, Bhola Rawal, and Tilpata Karanwas, under a ₹3.5 crore project.
Officials said the tender process has been completed, and installation work is expected to begin next month, improving visibility and addressing long-standing concerns over poorly lit roads in the region.
Final Push Before the Pilgrimage
With the Kanwar Yatra less than two weeks away, authorities across Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar are accelerating preparations to ensure a safe and well-managed pilgrimage.
The annual religious procession attracts lakhs of devotees from across northern India, making it one of the state's largest logistical and security exercises, requiring coordinated efforts from multiple government departments, civic agencies, and law enforcement authorities.
The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up preparations for the annual Kanwar Yatra, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing all departments to complete arrangements well before the pilgrimage begins on July 30. Chairing a late-night review meeting in Ghaziabad on Friday, the chief minister reviewed security measures, traffic management, CCTV surveillance, and civic infrastructure for the yatra, which will conclude on August 11 on the occasion of Shravan Shivratri.
Senior officials from the Meerut and Saharanpur divisions, along with representatives from Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, attended the meeting. Those present included Ghaziabad Police Commissioner J Ravindra Goud, Gautam Budh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh, divisional commissioners, district magistrates, and senior police officials.
Extensive Kanwar Route Through Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad remains one of the most important transit districts for the Kanwar Yatra.
The primary pilgrimage route stretches 25 kilometres from Muradnagar to Tila Morh and another 42.5 kilometres from Meerut's Kadrabad border to the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. An additional 53-kilometre route runs along the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, while parts of National Highway 9 will also witness traffic diversions during the yatra.
Every year, lakhs of Kanwariyas pass through Ghaziabad after collecting holy water from Haridwar, Gangotri, and other pilgrimage sites. To ensure smooth movement, traffic police are preparing detailed diversion plans, with the final route map expected to be released in the coming days.
Security, Surveillance and Civic Upgrades
During the review meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to maintain adequate police deployment across the pilgrimage route and take strict action against individuals attempting to spread rumours or misinformation through social media or other digital platforms.
He also directed the Public Works Department to repair roads, eliminate potholes, clear roadside vegetation, and remove garbage and debris before the yatra begins.
According to the district information department, CCTV cameras will be installed across the entire route, supported by drone surveillance to strengthen security monitoring.
Additional District Magistrate (City) Vikas Kashyap said the chief minister also directed that all meat shops along the Kanwar routes remain closed during the yatra, while liquor shops must either remain shut or be covered from public view throughout the pilgrimage.
Officials said Ghaziabad has been divided into 11 zones and 24 sectors to ensure seamless coordination of security, traffic, sanitation, and emergency services.
Appeal to Kanwariyas and Organisers
Speaking at a separate event in Muradnagar, the chief minister urged Kanwariyas and organisers to cooperate with the administration and maintain discipline throughout the pilgrimage.
He appealed to devotees to keep the volume of DJ systems within permissible limits and ensure that the height of decorated Kanwars does not exceed prescribed standards, allowing the movement of pilgrims and traffic to remain smooth.
Gautam Budh Nagar Also Intensifies Preparations
Preparations are also underway in neighbouring Gautam Budh Nagar.
District Magistrate Medha Roopam chaired a high-level review meeting on Saturday to assess readiness along major Kanwar routes, including the Kherli canal stretch, Jarcha-Samana Road, GT Road under NHAI, Lal Kuan-Dadri Road, and the Samtal Chowki corridor.
Officials were instructed to complete pothole repairs, clear roadside vegetation, prevent waterlogging, strengthen traffic management, remove encroachments, and improve street lighting within fixed deadlines.
The Public Works Department has been asked to prioritise barricading and signage near the Kherli canal bridge in Dankaur, an area that regularly faces waterlogging during the monsoon.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed four dewatering pumps at vulnerable locations along the route. The district magistrate has also sought detailed deployment plans from NHAI and other departments to facilitate coordinated inspections and ensure all deficiencies are addressed before pilgrims begin arriving.
Street Lighting Project for Peripheral Villages
Separately, the Greater Noida Authority has approved the installation of around 2,600 LED streetlights across 17 villages, including Surajpur, Bhola Rawal, and Tilpata Karanwas, under a ₹3.5 crore project.
Officials said the tender process has been completed, and installation work is expected to begin next month, improving visibility and addressing long-standing concerns over poorly lit roads in the region.
Final Push Before the Pilgrimage
With the Kanwar Yatra less than two weeks away, authorities across Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar are accelerating preparations to ensure a safe and well-managed pilgrimage.
The annual religious procession attracts lakhs of devotees from across northern India, making it one of the state's largest logistical and security exercises, requiring coordinated efforts from multiple government departments, civic agencies, and law enforcement authorities.
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