Ranchi Chhath Puja preparations have intensified across the city, with the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) deploying 1,600 sanitation workers and strengthening lighting, barricading, access roads and crowd-management arrangements at all 72 designated ghats before the four-day festival begins on Friday.
RMC municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav inspected Bada Talab, Kadru Talab and Chhappan Seth pond on Tuesday and directed officials to complete cleaning work at every designated ghat by Friday. The civic body is also clearing water bodies, approach roads and areas around the sites to prepare for the large crowds expected during the morning and evening arghya rituals.
At Bada Talab, officials were ordered to remove idol remains within 24 hours. Water treatment has also been directed at Bada Talab and Kadru Talab. At Kadru Talab, the commissioner instructed officials to install safety barricades, while Chhappan Seth pond will receive improved lighting and access-road arrangements.
According to an RMC statement, the sanitation deployment will include additional manpower under the Mukhya Mantri Shramik Yojana. The workers will support cleaning operations at the water bodies, ghats, approach roads and surrounding public areas before and during the celebrations.
The civic body is arranging more than 500 temporary changing rooms for devotees. Lighting is being strengthened at the ghats, while barricading is being added at vulnerable stretches to regulate movement and reduce the risk of people entering unsafe areas near the water. The arrangements are intended to support both the morning and evening rituals, when large numbers of devotees are expected to gather.
Safety remains a concern for local organising committees, particularly at ghats with deeper water. Raju Mahato, a member of the Jhumar Nadi Chhath Ghat Samiti, said deep-water areas should be properly barricaded and volunteers deployed to prevent accidents. He also called for an ambulance and medical assistance to be available near the ghats to respond to emergencies.
Local committees are separately arranging illumination, puja offerings and crowd regulation. Devotees have begun purchasing materials for the festival. Sangita Devi, a devotee from Ashok Nagar, said families wanted the rituals to be completed on time and without disruption.
The RMC’s immediate deadline is to finish cleaning work across all 72 designated ghats by Friday, alongside the installation of safety, lighting and access arrangements at locations identified for additional attention.
