Varanasi Police Bolster Security and Crowd Management for New Year 2026
Varanasi police have significantly stepped up security and crowd management efforts in anticipation of New Year 2026 celebrations, particularly around the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple. With an expected daily influx of 400,000 to 500,000 devotees, comprehensive plans are in place to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow for both residents and visitors.
A major initiative includes declaring the area from Maidagin to Godowlia, encompassing the temple vicinity, as a no-vehicle zone. This restriction applies to all vehicles, including two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and even VIP and police vehicles, making the route exclusively for pedestrians.
Barricades have been installed at various points to facilitate orderly movement, drawing parallels to arrangements made during the Mahakumbh, which saw up to one million daily visitors.
For visitors arriving from outside the city, dedicated parking facilities have been established at Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya. From this point, located approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometres from the temple, devotees will need to utilise e-rickshaws or auto-rickshaws for onward travel, with larger vehicles remaining at the designated parking. These proactive measures underscore Varanasi polices commitment to safe New Year celebrations.