Maharashtra News: Smarter traffic plan in works ahead of Nashik's Kumbh Mela 2027

Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to collaborate with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) to develop a comprehensive traffic plan, ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027. The initiative will see ITDP study traffic patterns and road conditions across the city and recommend ‘soft’ interventions rather than major infrastructural overhauls.

ITDP will function as a third-party advisor and monitor, overseeing plans drawn by existing consultants and providing technical guidance. Further, ITDP will monitor all nine city entry points and conduct scientific studies on movement patterns. It also plans to engage with over 1.2% of Nashik’s population to gather feedback and incorporate public input into planning efforts.

Over the five-year partnership, ITDP aims to help Nashik become a 'zero-accident city'. This includes relocating traffic islands, proposing design tweaks to minimise collisions, recommending systemic changes in traffic flow, creating pedestrian refuge zones, and influencing driver behaviour.  

As per reports, final decisions will rest with NMC, but ITDP will play a major role in shaping and reviewing implementation to ensure alignment with global best practices.