States » NorthPosted at: Sep 18 2026 7:35PM


Panchkula gears up for 10-day Navratra fair; special buses, round-the-clock power planned

Panchkula, Sep 18 (UNI) Panchkula will roll out special bus services, enhanced police deployment, round-the-clock power supply and separate arrangements for elderly, differently-abled and pregnant devotees as the administration prepares for a large influx of pilgrims during the Ashwin Navratra fair from October 11 to 20.
Deputy Commissioner Satpal Sharma, who is also Chief Administrator of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, reviewed preparations on Friday and directed departments to complete all arrangements well ahead of the 10-day religious event.
A major focus of the review was sanitation and safe drinking water. Sharma ordered that all water tanks in the Mansa Devi temple complex be cleaned within a week and that water samples be tested regularly to ensure quality.
He also directed the daily collection and proper disposal of garbage, the intensive cleaning of toilets, and the complete sanitation of the stretch from Singh Dwar to the temple. The Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA) was asked to take up the cleaning of the drain passing near the temple complex on priority.
“Cleanliness should not remain limited to an event; it must become a daily activity,” Sharma said, asking the Shrine Board's sanitation committee to closely monitor the exercise.
The administration will also tighten crowd and traffic management during the fair. Adequate police personnel will be deployed, checkpoints set up at appropriate locations, and devotees' queues regulated to avoid congestion. Separate arrangements will be made to facilitate darshan for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women.
Sharma directed Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam to ensure 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply at the Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula, Kali Mata temple in Kalka and Shri Chandi Mata temple during the fair.
The Health Department was asked to deploy adequate doctors and paramedical personnel, while Haryana's Transport Department and Chandigarh Transport Undertaking were directed to operate buses at regular intervals to the three temples for devotees.
The Deputy Commissioner also ordered the repair of roads and approaches around the temples. The Panchkula Municipal Corporation and Kalka Municipal Council will undertake repairs in their respective areas, while the Public Works Department has been asked to carry out painting and beautification of kerb channels around the three shrines.
The administration has also decided to keep the market inside the Mansa Devi temple complex free of encroachments. Shops will have to maintain adequate corridor space and ensure that garbage does not accumulate in front of their premises.
Sharma told officials that sanitation, drinking water, electricity, health services, transport, traffic and security arrangements should be coordinated rather than handled in isolation to ensure smooth movement of devotees during the fair.
Shrine Board Chief Executive Officer Vivek Arya, Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, Chief Minister's OSD B.B. Bharti, Haryana Scheduled Castes Commission Chairperson Banto Kataria and former Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, besides senior police, civic and district officials, attended the review meeting.
UNI KK RSA
Tags: #Panchkula gears up for 10-day Navratra fair; special buses# round-the-clock power planned
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