PRAYAGRAJ, Dec. 5 -- The delayed start and ongoing slow pace of preparations for Magh Mela 2026 are worrying officials of the Prayagraj Mela Authority (PMA), as the work is unlikely to be completed by the deadline of December 15. Key tasks, including land leveling and setting up the electricity and water pipeline networks, are still far from completion. The Magh Mela will commence with the first bathing on Paush Purnima on January 3.

The progress report submitted by the Mela administration to the state government's urban development minister, AK Sharma, on Saturday clearly showed that progress on many important projects was extremely slow.

A total of 16,713 checkered plates were slated for the construction of the Gata road in the Mela s...