The district administration has started preparing for the Pitripaksh Mela that attracts pilgrims from across the country.
There is less than a month to go for the mela that starts on September 17. The fair is organised when pilgrims come here to perform rituals for the salvation of the departed souls of their family members.
The district administration plans to make available to the pilgrims facilities such as Wi-fi, closed-circuit television cameras, air connectivity, website, mobile application and other such useful services.
The plans were discussed in a meeting called by Magadh division commissioner Lian Kunga on Saturday to review the preparations for the event.
Officials of the district administration, representatives of Gayapal Panda Samaj that represent priests who perform the rituals, and a few citizens were present at the meeting.
Gaya district magistrate Kumar Ravi said a request has been sent to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to make available Wi-fi in the Mela. "We have also requested Air India to add more flights connecting Gaya to Delhi."
The event website is being updated by including information on police camps, location of petrol pumps, ATMs and other services. There is a mobile app, downloading which, pilgrims can access the website. More than 70 CCTVs will be installed in the Mela around the Vishnupad temple to keep watch on troublemakers.
"To ensure safety of the pilgrims, around 2,500 security personnel will be requisitioned from the state police headquarters," Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Garima Malik said. The security personnel include traffic cops and woman constables as well, she said.
The commissioner asked the regional deputy director health, Magadh, to call a team of five doctors each from the districts of Magadh division - Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Nawada and Arwal - and deploy the team in the Mela with an ambulance. He directed the officials to finish the preparations in advance.
Magadh range deputy inspector-general of police Saurabh Kumar asked the SSP to deploy personnel in the Mela, accommodation sites and important places.
