Maha Kumbh 2025: Cutting-Edge Tech Deployment to Streamline Devotee Counting

Prayagraj, UP - With the largest ever congregation of devotees expected this year, the mela authorities have taken a significant step towards ensuring accurate counting by leveraging state-of-the-art technology. The deployment of AI-enabled cameras, CCTV surveillance systems, and intelligent crowd density calculations will play a pivotal role in managing the huge influx of pilgrims.

According to Vijay Vishwas Pant, divisional commissioner, around 40 crore devotees are expected to attend Maha Kumbh this year, making it a record-breaking event. To cope with such massive numbers, the administration has designed special measures to track attendee numbers, security and crowd management. The AI-driven system will generate immediate alerts for officials to count and monitor devotees accurately throughout the event.

The meal administration has set up 744 temporary CCTV cameras at 200 locations within the mela premises while adding an additional 1107 permanent CCTV cameras to cover the city locations. Moreover, 720 CCTV cameras have been positioned across over 100 parking zones for holistic monitoring.

Dedicated viewing centers have also been established at various places to ensure that officials can track devotees seamlessly. Technical specialists at ICCC stressed that it's crucial to monitor turnout cycles to prevent duplicate counting which involves measuring pilgrims' average time spent in ghat areas using advanced systems such as Cochran formulas.

For tracking purposes, the organizers have decided on three comprehensive approaches - Attribute-Based Search (person attributes search cameras to track individuals based on specific markers), RFID wristbands for devotees (which are distributed especially during major bathing days) and Mobile App Tracking using GPS based real-time monitoring of pilgrims' movement with there consent

"Testing is in progress to ensure accurate data," said divisional commissioner Pant, while adding that measures implemented previously during Magh Mela have given 95% accuracy.