Pilgrims and tourists visiting the Maha Kumbh in 2025 will have the opportunity to enjoy various facilities and explore different religious tourist spots.
One of the major attractions for them will be the Akshayavat corridor, which starts from the Akshayavat tree situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, inside the Akbar fort of the Sangam area. This corridor will lead to Saraswati Koop via Patalpuri.
Akshayavat corridor was opened for common devotees in Kumbh Mela 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the opening of Akshayavat and Saraswati Koop in December 2018.
To undertake the beautification project, the smart city has been allocated a budget of approximately Rs 18 crore.
In a recent meeting between the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) and Indian Army officers regarding the construction of the corridor, both parties agreed to expedite the work.
The tender has been issued, and the executing agency has been selected, assuring that the corridor will be ready by June of next year, as confirmed by Arvind Kumar Chauhan, the vice chairman of PDA.
As part of the project, a grand gate will be constructed at the entrance of the ramp leading to the fort and Akshayavat tree.
Additionally, a corridor will be built from the entrance to Akshayavat, with proposed renovations to the railing and floor on both sides.
The Akshayavat complex will be beautified with attractive lighting, LED screens, facade lights, and a sound system along the corridor. This will allow devotees to perform the holy tree’s circumambulation.
The Akshayavat corridor could potentially be inaugurated by the Prime Minister before the Maha Kumbh. Previously, the tree was under the jurisdiction of the Indian Army within Akbar’s fort, making it inaccessible to the general public.
However, following the Prime Minister’s announcement to open the tree for darshan by the common public, devotees are now allowed to enter the fort, although they can only view the tree from a distance.