Nashik is all set to host its Kumbh Mela and it is a great way to fuse both infrastructure and nature, according to Lubaina Rangwala, Program Director at WRI India, speaking at a session titled ‘Kumbh: The spiritual boost for a regional economy’ at The Hindu Maharashtra Infrastructure Conclave held on Friday (May 22, 2026) in Mumbai.

Shekhar Singh, Commissioner of Nashik Kumbh Mela, and Manisha Khatri, Commissioner of Nashik Municipal Corporation, spoke about the highlights and the challenges of the ₹35,000 crore project. About ₹26,000 crore is funded by the State and the rest financed by Central grants. A ring road worth ₹8,000 crore and a 400 kVA power station for the first time in Nashik are major projects besides internal and external quality audit costs, they said.

While underlining the key achievements of the project and its learnings from the past for such a large congregation, Mr. Singh said: “There are certain things that Nashik did very well in 2015. It was a zero incident scope, no stampede, no injured people event.” He further said that there was more private sector investment in ensuring such concerns are addressed.

Issue of sustainability

The panel also discussed the dilemma of making sure the infrastructure development does not result in environmental damage, including felling trees. The two commissioners helming the project argued that while it was ideal to not cut trees, it may be necessary for upcoming projects including the Kumbh, Tapovan and river development project to enable decongestion. They added that this was part of urbanisation. “Mumbai was also once a forest. But it is not now,” Mr. Singh argued.

He said that there was more private sector investment in ensuring such concerns are addressed. “As far as the private sector involvement is concerned, I think whether it is Adani or the other major industrial groups from the country, we have begun engaging with them,” he further said.

Ms. Rangwala, however, rebutted that infrastructure should be perceived from the point of access and mobility enhancement and not through the framing of congestion. “Congestion is an unsolvable problem,” she pointed out.

The urban planner further drew attention to the need for ensuring Nashik’s development for the Kumbh is also climate risk resilient. More than a fifth of Nashik city lives within 100 metres from flood hotspots and any infrastructure development needs to keep this in mind, she said.