A 31-member Department of Economic Affairs delegation led by Chief Economic Adviser V Ananth Nageswaran has reviewed Nashik’s economic strengths and preparations for the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela after a three-day study tour of the district.
The delegation, from the Ministry of Finance, was coordinated by the Nashik district administration. Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited facilitated the itinerary. The visit covered agriculture, manufacturing, life sciences, traditional livelihoods and the civic arrangements being planned for the large religious gathering in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.
The tour began with a review of Sahyadri Farms’ farmer-led model and its export-oriented value chains for grapes, bananas and pomegranates. Officials also visited vegetable and tomato processing units, research and development farms focused on precision agriculture, agrivoltaics and climate-resilient crop varieties, and farming families in Savargaon. A visit to poultry farms formed part of the delegation’s assessment of rural economic activity.
Economic Adviser Rose Mary K. Abraham said the exercise was intended to gather on-ground inputs from agriculture, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and traditional sectors. According to the report, the inputs are expected to support national economic policymaking and strengthen central support for the region.
The delegation next examined Nashik’s industrial landscape. Officials visited a biopharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Akrale-Dindori and toured electrical, automobile and engineering companies. Their areas of focus included automation, localisation, electronics manufacturing and advanced power equipment production. The delegation also visited vineyards to assess Nashik’s viticulture and wine-processing value chain.
On the final day, officials travelled to Yeola, where they interacted with Paithani weavers and examined opportunities connected to sustainable livelihoods and exports from the traditional craft sector. The visit then moved to the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority office.
At the authority office, the delegation reviewed administrative preparedness, civic infrastructure plans and crowd-management strategies for the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The review places the event within a wider district-level planning exercise that includes the movement of visitors, provision of civic facilities and coordination between local administration and higher levels of government. The supplied report did not provide details of approved project costs, construction deadlines or specific infrastructure works.
