In preparation for the Maha Kumbh festival, a series of development projects aimed at enhancing facilities and aesthetics in the Sangam city includes the transformation of Triveni Pushp. This site, situated by the Yamuna river’s Arail side in Uttar Pradesh, is slated for a major renovation, positioning it as a prime tourist attraction.
The responsibility for rejuvenating Triveni Pushp has been entrusted to Swami Shukdevanand Trust Parmarth Niketan, an organization based in Rishikesh. This move comes as part of a leasing agreement, which grants the trust the authority to develop the site for tourism purposes. Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) has handed over the lease to Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the President of the trust, for a period of 30 years.
Under this agreement, Swami Shukdevanand Trust will provide an annual contribution of INR 81 lakh to PDA. This financial commitment secures their position as custodians of Triveni Pushp, with the potential for the lease to be extended for an additional 10 years to further facilitate its development.
Triveni Pushp spans an expansive 16 bighas in the Naini area of Arail. While PDA had initially planned to develop it as a tourist destination during Kumbh 2019, progress in that direction was limited at the time. However, this leasing agreement marks a renewed effort to elevate the site’s appeal.
The lease decision was preceded by a tender process that saw participation from several organizations, including Swamishukdevanand Trust, Vyakti Vikas Kendra (associated with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar), and Prayagraj’s organization Lallu Ji & Sons. Swami Shukdevanand Trust secured the lease with a bid of INR 81 lakh per year, whereas Vyakti Vikas Kendra proposed INR 63 lakh and Lallu Ji & Sons bid INR 36.53 lakh per year.
As part of the refurbishment plans, Triveni Pushp is set to see the establishment of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and symbolic recreations of ancient temples.
The President of Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA), Arvind Kumar Chauhan, emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “This decision will help increase the revenue of PDA and at the same time give a new lease of life to this important site.”