Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has earmarked Rs 19 crore to prepare over 200 Chhath ghats across the city ahead of the festival. The work includes repairing approach roads, removing slush and mud, cleaning ghats, installing barricades and improving lighting and parking facilities.Mayor Sita Sahu said the work would be completed by Nov 13, well ahead of the festival. Preparations will also cover ponds in parks and residential areas, with temporary ghats, ramps and changing rooms to be provided wherever required.The focus on access roads comes amid concerns over the condition of several Ganga ghats following severe floods this year. Slush, mud, garbage and waterlogging could make it difficult for devotees to reach the riverfront.Under the PMC plan, approach roads will be constructed or repaired, while steps, pathways, drain covers and tiles will be fixed wherever necessary. Parking areas will be developed near the ghats, while walls, railings and underpasses will be cleaned and painted. Temporary ramps and drainage arrangements will also be made.A senior Bankipur circle engineer said safety measures included temporary barricading with wooden poles, levelling ghat surfaces with sand and installing lights along the riverfront and approach routes. Cloth barricades will be placed at dangerous ghats and sensitive locations to prevent devotees from entering unsafe areas.According to PMC data, Collectorate Ghat and its approach roads and parking facilities account for the highest proposed expenditure at around Rs 1 crore. The plan includes Rs 50 lakh for ghat improvement, barricading, sand filling and lighting, and Rs 50 lakh for parking, approach roads and illumination.The corporation has allocated Rs 49 lakh for Bans Ghat and Rs 48 lakh for Mahendru Ghat and its approach road. Executive officers of all six municipal circles have been tasked with monitoring the work. Sahu said providing convenience to devotees was the corporation’s priority.
