Hardwar, Jan 14: Uttaranchal government has made elaborate arrangements for the four-month long 'Ardh Kumbh Mela' beginning here today which is likely to attract thousands of pilgrims from all over the country.

Nearly ten thousand police personnel and a fool-proof security cordon will be in place to prevent any untoward incidents. An additional police force is also being called from neighbouring Himachal and Uttar Pradesh, DIG Ardh Kumbh P K Joshi told reporters earlier.
He said Rapid Action Force and Army jawans would also assist the state police.
Hardwar has been divided into two main zones and 31 sectors with separate passages being provided to vehicles coming from Roorkee, Dehra Dun, Rishikesh and Najibabad.
Joshi said arrangements have been made for one crore people every day, adding a traffic plan has been worked out with special 25 parking spaces to accommodate nearly one lakh vehicles at any given time.
The main bathing days are Makar Sakranti, Basant Panchmi, Shiv Ratri and Baisakhi.
This would be the first time that Uttaranchal would be witnessing such a huge gathering since its formation in 2000, he said.
However the Ganga Maha Sabha, the managing body of the priests have declared January 26 as the apt time for beginning of the Mela.
Government is also taking precautions to prevent any confrontation between various sects on the issue of dates.
Bureau Report