Gaya district administration has stepped up preparations for the four-day Chhath festival, ordering closer inspections of riverfront ghats and safety arrangements at the railway station, bus stands and airport as visitors begin returning to the city.
District magistrate Shashank Shubhankar directed officials to ensure that devotees and passengers face no inconvenience during the festival period. The administration has illuminated Gaya railway station, bus stands and the airport with decorative lights, while traditional Chhath songs are being played at the facilities to welcome residents returning home for the festival.
The preparations also include checks on crowd management, security, drinking water, sanitation and lighting. Additional collector Ravi Shankar Kumar conducted a detailed inspection of Gaya railway station on Monday and directed officials to maintain close coordination between the district and railway administrations.
The inspection comes as transport facilities become key arrival points for passengers travelling to Gaya for Chhath. The district administration has asked officials to ensure that the arrangements at these locations are properly implemented and that safety measures remain in place as passenger movement increases.
At the riverfront, the district magistrate directed the municipal commissioner, sub-divisional magistrates, executive officers of civic bodies and circle officers to personally inspect all Chhath ghats under their respective jurisdictions. The instructions cover both the physical condition of the sites and the basic services needed by devotees during the main rituals.
Officials have been tasked with ensuring cleanliness at the ghats, maintaining approach roads leading to the riverbanks, providing adequate lighting and arranging proper toilet facilities. They have also been asked to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe.
The administration’s instructions place multiple agencies in charge of different parts of the festival infrastructure. District officials, railway authorities, municipal bodies and local field officers will need to coordinate on passenger movement, sanitation, access roads and safety at locations that are likely to receive large gatherings.
The focus on approach roads and lighting reflects the operational demands of Chhath arrangements beyond the riverbank itself. Devotees must reach the ghats safely, while transport hubs need to manage arrivals and provide basic amenities. The inspection process is intended to identify gaps before the main rituals begin.
Gaya’s preparations therefore combine a public welcome for returning residents with a set of administrative checks covering transport facilities and civic infrastructure. The district administration’s next steps are the personal inspection of ghats by the designated officials and completion of cleanliness, road, lighting and toilet arrangements within the prescribed timeframe.
