Nashik: Private Tent Cities To Expand Accommodation For Simhastha 2027 Pilgrims

Nashik is preparing to accommodate millions of pilgrims who are expected to visit the city during the Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela 2027. To boost the accommodation capacity, the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) has introduced a framework allowing private landowners and operators to set up temporary Tent Cities. These tent cities will adhere to strict safety, sanitation, and civic service standards.

Private landowners and operators with a registered Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private landowner can apply for participation. The proposed sites must be privately owned, contiguous, free from encumbrances, within the Nashik district, and have a minimum area of two acres. The Tent Cities will operate from March to December 2027, and all structures must be dismantled after the approved period.

The new framework aims to supplement Nashik's permanent infrastructure during the peak pilgrim season, with a strong emphasis on sanitation and environmental safeguards. Operators must provide adequate toilets, bathing facilities, and accessible sanitation infrastructure. Waste disposal regulations, including the prohibition of open dumping and burning, have been put in place.

Operators are also responsible for source segregation, daily collection, and disposal of waste in accordance with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board guidelines. Safety measures, such as fire safety, crowd management, medical emergencies, and weather-related alerts, will be addressed through coordinated emergency response plans.

The application process for private Tent Cities is expected to commence soon, with applicants required to submit site details, land ownership, layout, tent and parking numbers, utilities, fire-safety arrangements, and operator credentials.