Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed civic and enforcement agencies to close remaining gaps at Chhath Puja ghats, with electricity, water, sanitation, security and medical arrangements required to be fully operational by November 16.
Gupta issued the directions after reviewing preparations at various ghats during a meeting at Janseva Sadan. The review comes as arrangements for the festival near completion across the capital, where large gatherings are expected at designated riverfront and artificial waterbody sites.
The Chief Minister said the government had a responsibility to provide devotees with a safe, clean and convenient environment for prayers. She described Chhath Puja as a festival rooted in the faith and traditions of lakhs of families and asked departments to resolve shortcomings immediately through coordinated action.
District magistrates are carrying out final joint inspections with Chhath Puja committees and the agencies responsible for individual sites. The inspections cover the readiness of the ghats, approach roads and basic public facilities. Officials have been asked to ensure that personnel deployment and other essential arrangements are completed by November 16.
Security and movement around the sites will be divided between Delhi Police and traffic police. Delhi Police will oversee security and law and order, while traffic police will regulate vehicular movement and keep emergency routes operational. The arrangement is intended to manage crowd movement and ensure access for emergency services during the festival.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council have been assigned responsibility for sanitation and waste disposal. The Delhi Jal Board will provide water tankers and drinking water, while the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board will arrange mobile toilets at the ghats.
Electricity and distribution companies have completed lighting arrangements at the ghats and along approach roads, according to the report of the review meeting. Lighting is among the facilities being monitored as part of the final readiness checks, alongside sanitation, water supply and access routes.
Medical support is also being planned at major ghats. The Health Department and Centralised Accident and Trauma Services will deploy medical camps, doctors, paramedical staff, first-aid facilities and ambulances. Nearby hospitals will be brought into the emergency response system for cases requiring further treatment.
The government has also ordered special cleanliness drives before the festival. Departments must submit photographic compliance reports showing the condition of each ghat, creating a documented record of whether the directions issued during the review have been implemented.
Gupta said monitoring would continue even after the festival. She added that the government aimed to enable Purvanchali families and other devotees in Delhi to observe Chhath Puja with devotion, respect and peace of mind. The next operational milestone is the completion of department-level arrangements and final joint inspections by November 16.
