MUMBAI, June 23 -- All roads leading to Nashik will be upgraded ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday. A high-level meeting concerning the highways connecting Nashik was held with Nitin Gadkari, union minister for road transport and highways, according to a release from the CM's Office. Considering the large number of devotees who will come for the mega congregation in Nashik and the need for traffic management at the time, Gadkari gave in-principle approval for the development and construction of necessary road infrastructure through his ministry, said the release. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31, 2026, with 'Dhwajarohan' (flag hoisting) at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik. The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028, marking the conclusion of the event, which is held once every 12 years. Citing the growing faith of devotees and the expected rise in footfall during Kumbh Mela this year, the CM had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi for central support to boost road infrastructure, the release said. Nashik is connected by eight major routes, including Mumbai, Palghar, Pune, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dhule, and the neighbouring state of Gujarat. Gadkari has given in-principle approval to nearly all proposed roads, and it was decided that the required funds to complete the work would be provided soon, the CMO said. Fadnavis said the expected surge in traffic during Kumbh will be managed effectively through an expanded road network, ensuring safer travel for devotees. Approval was granted for the Nashik Ring Road, and the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar road will be widened into a six-lane highway, the release said. To ensure smooth traffic within Nashik, the infrastructure at Dwarka Circle will be enhanced in two phases, one before the Kumbh and one after, according to the release....